sorry pales
glossing over all that’s passed
mountains and moors held in jail
with neglect and abuses so crass

for the memories i couldn’t bare
the young traumas and stale regret
that clung fast not to be shared
forever paying on an old debt 

for the efforts to fix and correct
to make you something else
less reminder of the bent to collect
more pleasing possibility and deference

for the reframing and hiding
in too-long transparent coats
trading living for riding
on what’s been learned by rote

for muddying the well that springs up
ever renewed to feed what lies
at the heart, the unbroken cup
one hope to loosen the bind that ties

thank you for holding it all
then when asked for letting it go
shaking it loose without recall
no judgement, no shame, no crow

appreciation for standing strong
through the long and cold night
ever faithful trust in the coming dawn
and thaw signaled by first light