little flame-headed child
i should have held you more.
i should have scooped you up in your little patchwork-dress
and read to you when you asked.
i shouldn't have left you alone
outside
on purpose
i shouldn't have let you cry
over
and over
and over.
i shouldn't have made fun of you
for making friends with the air
for talking to them
when you were lonely
you were only
a child.
little flame-headed baby
i should have done so many things
as many things as i shouldn't have
i did wrong by you
so many times
and when i was given a second chance
our mother robbed me of it.
that's karma, i guess.

little flame-headed child
you forgive me,
but your patchwork heart doesn't
it's alright,
i deserve it