Apologies

I know that one five-letter word

Could never convince you to

Set a aside a lifetime of sins

And give me the forgiveness I need

To shape a second chance.

So what would be enough?

If I throw in a please,

Will that do a trick?

Could ten dozen Hail Mary’s,

Prayers to a god I won’t accept,

Pay my debt to you?

Or a public apology-

Humiliation for me,

Retribution for you?

Monthly installments,

Payment for your continuing forgiveness?

Less for me and more for you?

Gifts of sorry:

Books and cookies,

Diamonds and kingdoms?

Sorry baked into a cake?

Sorry tattooed up and down my arms?

Sorry scarred on my heart?

Sorry wrapped in a poem?

I would give you all of this and more still

If it would relieve my guilt.

But if one sorry isn’t enough,

What could possibly be better

About two or five or one hundred?

What apology could ever be enough for you?