I Love You, Really

You are the only thing I came into this world

entitled to

and to start with, I wasn’t sure just what

to do with you

spent one whole year working out how to get you upright

before I took

that first step.

I still fall over lots and I’m sorry for

the times I forget

to look both ways before I take

that first step into the road.

I’m sorry for the time I spilt

boiling water on your toe

for the times I made you grow

too fast, leaving ocean waves across both thighs

for the times I left you hungry

named you toad

and rode you up the path that forced you

to keep watch in the night,

dry salted desert eyes.

I’m sorry for the times I rip off the

straggly bits, try to

straighten out the tangled parts and

flatten out the bumpy parts

your landscape…

felicitymatilda