Readers Write: Father’s Day Note to My Family

The Island Now

I apologize for being the way I am.
I apologize for being so often mistaken,
also for the times I lacked patience, and for
what I overlooked or brushed aside.
For some reason it seemed necessary at the time,
but please don’t ask me to explain.
Excuse my ignorance.

Pardon my laughing from time to time at your expense,
others for asking too many questions—
I didn’t mean to be provocative.
Forgive me for not bringing flowers to our disagreements:
I was wrong, it was inappropriate, I didn’t take things
seriously, also you deserved more credit.

My apologies for answering perfectly good questions
with simple answers, I didn’t pay attention.
I apologize for all my transgressions, I fostered many.
My muses are few and fickle, they don’t exactly line up
behind me or always seem to have best intentions.
Then my dreams are not as grand as they should be.

Thank you for putting up with me, you deserved better.
I understand Love cannot solve every problem, that
Love is an open question, but it works well enough for much.
You don’t owe me anything, I should have been better.
And there is still space within for so much more.

Stephen Cipot
Garden City Park

Share this Article