Today a poor sweet

innocent life was lost.

It was by my hand

so I must pay the the cost.

But who understands?

Who will let me confess?

Will anyone tell me

how to repay my debt?

What could possibly equal

the worth of a life?

I have stolen a treasure

that is without price.

How can I express

the intensity of

the regret that I feel?

Nothing could be enough.

What could I have done?

It all happened so fast.

Everything moved so quickly,

I could not react,

but in flashes of memory

I see each detail

a maddening view

of a creature so frail.

In my mind I can see

a look of pure fear

and a small helpless scream

of agony fills my ears.

Cries of “I’m sorry”

that no one will hear

as my face becomes covered

with self-loathing tears.

I think of the terror

that poor creature felt

as I pray for forgiveness

I know I’ll not grant myself.

In an act of atonement

I do what I swore

was something I would

never do anymore.

A memorial and apology

for the life that I took

will be my reminder

every time that I look

at my flesh that’s now marked

a symbol of regret

that will be there always

so I’ll never forget.