Forgive Me

   remember that day

when we were

traveling

along a dusty country road

and I was looking out my window

like always

and I saw a sign that read

FLOWERS 25 CENTS EACH



and next to it

stood a little girl

with a dirt-streaked face

and bare feet

who wore a ragged dress

that looked too small

holding a bouquet of drooping daisies

that could also be found across the road

in a deserted field



and we locked eyes

for just a moment

they were sad

and blue

like mine

and I said

"Daddy, can we please stop?"

and you said

"Maybe on the way home"

and we drove on