Detoxification
I live in a small pueblo where every day or so
my neighbours sweep the pavement to keep
their side of the road clean and pick up the litter
And I like Beppo the Street Sweeper in Momo
by Michael Ende who always has the time
to speak a kind word to his legendary mates
Never liked to litter with trash rubbish or garbage
but I have cast words and actions upon my fellows
sometimes in anger and others in vulnerable pain
and they need not forget forgive or reward me
for my apologies must not sanction me with a medal
‘Purple Heart’ for my own suffering through the offence
which became a junk yard for wrong actions and speech
Life is short and wasteful memories can be long
but a short ‘I am sorry’ does not do any harm
as long as its honest and not for scoring immaculate
points on a spread sheet of blemishes and deceit
From my door step I voice ‘Hola’ and ‘Que pasa?’
to the little old ladies with the curlers and brooms
Dettol in hand and staggering steps in their stride
and wish to put my failings into the recycling bin
sanitize with truthful acceptance of my part in a toxic
environment that needs a tidy up before it sticks
like dog poo on a foul conscience and reeks havoc
‘Disculpe’ and ‘Lo siento’ as a tiny ‘mea culpa’
is simply an offer of truce not a white shiny flag
of capitulation or forced armistice under duress
but Peace and social encounters are tough enough
even without grievances and self-righteous pride
I can’t turn into perfume and on some occasions
an ‘I beg your pardon’ was not granted the request
my appeal for friendship was rebuffed and thrown
straight back into my face with fierce vengeance
but more often than not a land fill site of regret was
granted a home for a sincere olive branch in the shelter
of simply doing the right thing as the best one can do
23rd May 2021
Copyright © Kai Michael Neumann | Year Posted 2021
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