Day 5 – Still Fighting It

I’m sorry. 
You will be so much like me. 
You will grow up, afraid. 
Not for any good reason. 
Once you understand emotional pain,
There will always be a part of you,
Starved and locked away. 

I’m sorry. 
You will be so much like me. 
Too smart to think about anything
Besides why you have no meaning,
Why your life is purposeless
Why your regrets hang over you
Like a splintered weeping willow
In a Louisiana swamp

I’m sorry. 
You will be so much like me.
One day you will have your own child
Passing down all of your faults
A chain of apology and regret
Gnarled and unbroken
Sin begat sin

Unless

You break the bond
Reject my shame 
Reject my lies 
Instead take from me 
Like a nibble from a blackberry 
A small seed that you can nurture
Until the plant that emerges
Gnarled and unbroken
Has moved out of the muck
And into the new light of tomorrow’s promise

But

I’m sorry. 
You will be so much like me.