Peace Offering

i came to you
 
from an old place
 
 
but not old enough
 
 
i came with stale bread...
 
nothing fresh
 
 
 
i  came with a mask
 
just in case
 
a mask designed painstakingly
 
to look like a heart
 
a heart on a sleeve
 
 
 
when you asked
 
for that
 
i feigned offence
 
at such judgment 
 
you turned your back
 
 
 
take
 
my bloodless offering
 
you did not
 
 
 
the rejection was bitter
 
as i walked away
 
your tears
 
muffled words
 

words drowned out
 
by my own judgements
 
in the court: "HOW PATHETIC!"
 
 
it was later
 
when my head had cleared
 
your words broke through:
 
"REMEMBER US"
 
 
 
and when all the fight
 
in me was gone
 
i thought back
 
and back
 
and back
  
 
 
beyond the haze
 
of desert sands
 
 
 
beyond the pain
 
of being left adrift
 
 
 
beyond the confusion
 
at the coastline
 
 
 
right back
 
 
 
to home
 

to being in your arms:

 
"DAD"