Can You Forgive Me?

A Poem

Photo by kevin laminto on Unsplash

i wish i knew you
in your days of luster,
those better times
when sadness fled
in the wake of joy

i wish i could tell you
words to chase away
all hint of tears,
but i too struggle
with this reality

i wish we were living
in a kinder world,
a far-away dream
which wouldn’t die
no matter the strain

can you forgive me?
i tried to tame your sorrow,
but i only made you sadder
on the path of new beginnings,
our fork in the road

i can hold out a hand
of offering, of peace —
but there’s no point
since we’re still caught
in a war all our own

i can give you flowers
to make you smile,
but i’ll never see
contentment
cross your face