i'm sorry that my mom and you didn't work out i'm sorry that mayias mom and you didn't work out i'm sorry that paul's mom and you worked out i'm sorry that i couldn't give you friday night lights like he did. i'm sorry i was born in 2000 because you missed more days with me than you did with them. i'm sorry that sounded selfish i'm sorry that you thought buying me books was better than actually reading them to me i'm sorry grandma had to do the ***** work for you i'm sorry that you thought money would be the only way to help her i'm sorry if you think you've done more for me than her i'm sorry that 1782 patricia avenue wasn't the ideal household for you i'm sorry that the coffee color coated sofa will never mount up to the scent of her bedsheets i'm sorry that i don't attend the family vacations every weekend to riverview i'm sorry your last name isn't on her little girls birth certificate considering she calls you daddy like your the only man she knows i'm sorry she didn't get close with her real dad, i guess i can empathize with her i'm sorry you missed my first day of kindergarten i would've loved to show you my teacher but she's in the grave now rest in peace ms. rossy i'm sorry that when you got out i didn't recognize you as i sat on the creeky wooden swing with grandma it's just hard wanting to wrap your arms around a man you never knew i'm sorry that i remember the long weekends spent at the mayo correctional institution than the long weekends we spent together in dunedin. oh that's right we never spent time together. but we spent money. i'm sorry that when i heard your dad will pick you up from school the once missing two front teeth cute smile turned into a frown that began to sink into the ground i'm sorry but being parked in front of the "spot" for two hours made me rather do my homework but my fingers began to shake as the ac blasted creeping its way into every opening of my applebottom clothing im sorry that mary jane took the spot between your curled lips as she lighted up her smoky fire crisped in your lungs and crinkled your brain cells. who do i kiss good night, if your lips are occupied by rolled paper. i'm sorry that mayia and i can't give you saturday morning haircuts at the shop like paul i'm sorry paul don't think i'm mad at you. it's not you. it's never been you. i'm sorry this face wears rage like an accessory i'm sorry that you think yelling at mayia is okay. DAD that girl loves you so much she just wants you to pay attention to her. her mom won't give it to her. this little girl shines like christmas lights that i love to hang. she is the brightest thing in our room. i'm sorry you couldn't see that your second child is giving you a second chance i'm sorry grandma mayia and i can't give you the world like paul and tika i'm sorry holly left because i really need her to be the mediator right now i'm sorry that i thought you could help me with sort laundry i thought it was less work than scrubbing her ***** dishes as your hands pruned in your sickening silver soapy water, but i guess you like working for her i'm sorry that we never got to have a relationship i'm sorry it's too late i'm leaving soon i'm sorry i have to get out of here pinellas county has filled me with a monotonous life style i'm sorry but it's time to say goodbye to emptiness i'm sorry that this family has felt broken since april 8th 2000. i guess birthday wishes don't come true i'm so sorry that i haven't been able to string my broken english together to share this with you until now i'm sorry you're probably upset and telling me how wrong i am but feelings aren't wrong they are emotions that i've been absorbed in and they are becoming oh so real for you now. take it in. take in the pain i've felt for 17 years. take in the faith i have in you that you can change. take in the love i still have for you. take in the broken heart that's been thrown on the ground way to many times i'm sorry that i'm not perfect but who would want to be that's overrated i'm sorry i wish i could've painted you a mural of mend i'm sorry but mayia and i tried hard to fix things i'm sorry but she's too scared to tell you she doesn't want to be dragged across the courtney camble after your late shifts on friday nights and maybe she does but it doesn't add up with her messages begging her me to come pick her up. mayia if you want to stay with them that's fine baby. i'm not mad at you. i won't ever be mad at you. i'm mad because even after the struggle with your mom toe let you see us he still ignores you because it seems like he rather have tikas body wrapped around his tatted arms than yours. i'm sorry paul gave you more than we could ever offer we thought our soccer games could keep you around but then he started playing too. i thought my poetry would fix things but after this poem you're gonna hurt too im sorry if you thought that was my intention. it's not. it's for you to realize that you have two daughters too i'm so sorry mayia and i were never good enough for you.