After your girl breathes no more
After your child lies limp on the kitchen floor
After your neighbor’s gone
After your dog’s uneaten meal is strewn across the lawn
I will say sorry.
When the bride doesn’t make it to her wedding
When a chaffinch stops singing
When your wait is fruitless
When the your backyard is treeless
I say I am sorry.
Because she could not finish reading the book
Because he was cycling just round the nook
Because the roads were dug up
Because you couldn’t get water, not even a cup
I will say sorry
As the wail dies out
As the blood splatters around
As the noise pierces through the thickest of walls
As the silence engulfs all
I say I am sorry.
I am not one of you
I am still going to hold the powerful tool
I am here to protect
I am here to acerbate the strife’s effect
I am sorry.
You didn’t ask for me and yet I am here
You didn’t deserve to live in fear
You didn’t want to hear those cries
You didn’t have to stand our lies
Our fight was not against you
Yet, we took away the joy of a lazy Sunday morning
Yet, we took away our promises
Yet, your milk never boiled
Yet, your sister never slept
Yet, you never woke up.
I am sorry.
