Confession

I brought these flowers to you from the soccer field
You’d remember—they used to bloom on both sides of the fence
Now the ground is left barren and dry
Where the blooms were cut down on one side
And each spring there are fewer to sweeten the earth with their scent

I bought these flowers to you, I can’t say why
Maybe all of this time I have carried your name
I’m not really making amends
For not counting you one of my friends
All the stones I have thrown through the years—you were doing the same

But I remember once we played over piles of stones
Chasing a ball over fencerows and fields overgrown
Battles we fought in the sun
We’d soon forget who had won when the daylight had flown
—it was all we had known

I’d bring these flowers home when I was young
They’d shine at our table each night like the afternoon sun
But our foundation started to shake
Our trust like a window so sharp when it breaks
And compassion could be a mistake—can’t forget what’s been done…

I remember once we played ball running over the stones
From the houses that fell where that night the tank shells had flown
None of us wanted to lose
But the weeds by the fence never choose on which side they’ll grow
—it is all that they know…

I brought you these flowers from the fence by the soccer field
Now the plants get mowed down on one side before they can bloom
From my pockets the hope I have saved
I’ll shake a few seeds on your grave
And I’ll lay down these flowers to dry by the light of the moon

Copyright Tracy S. Feldman, All rights reserved