A Symphony of Circumstance
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A child runs across the pavement
falls and scrapes his knee.
He cries
and cries,
outcomes his mother
fussing about, hugging her baby to her chest,
saying
“I’m sorry”
she kisses him gently on the forehead
the child's energy
wearing out
quickly
.
a high school senior
wades through the crowded school halls
trying to get through
the rushed chaos
when she accidentally knocks a juniors books out of her hands
the senior calls out a rushed
“I’m sorry”
behind her
she forgets the Junior
leaving her behind
to be on time
for practice
in her pursuit
of happiness
.
a father stands
at the foot of his daughter's casket
blurred vision as his child's mother approaches
her new man in tow
the parents embrace, sharing cries of grief
Mr. New Guy, aware of the awkwardness
mumbles
"I'm sorry"
to them both
not sure where to look
when he sees he isn't heard
.
a sleep-deprived cashier is ringing up a woman’s groceries
the cashier’s eyes are sallow
the woman trying to count out
crumbled dollar bills
she is a few dollars short
and looks up at the cashier, wishing for a blessing, turning first behind her
saying
“I’m sorry”
to the Mother waiting with a screaming child next in line
the mother tapping her feet in annoyance
the baby screams incessantly
the cashier’s eyes sank lower
once more
.
a teacher faces her student
the test grade in hand
the student's eyes hopeful
that he finally got the grade
he’d tried harder than even the other kids to earn,
that he finally got the grade he deserved
the teacher flips over the paper
to show the failing grade
the kid’s eyes hope drops lower than the number on the test,
the math teacher says
“I’m sorry”
to the sad kid,
he swallows down his frustration
he tries not to let it show
knowing he's failing that, too
.
A mother is asking her teenage son what he wants for dinner,
he says “McDonald's”
she says she forgot to get gas,
Saying