I’m sorry

I’m sorry for the nights the sun came home before I did

I’m sorry for every smile of yours I missed

Every belly laugh

I’m sorry for every goodnight kiss I missed

I’m sorry for every one of your mother’s tears

I’m sorry you were the one there to catch them

I’m sorry your mother told you the truth about Santa Claus

About the tooth fairy

The Easter bunny

Explained where babies come from

On her own

I’m sorry I wasn’t your best friend

I’m sorry I made you try softball

I’m sorry you couldn’t talk to me the first time the expectation of having a girlfriend confused you

I’m sorry you couldn’t talk to me when you first knew you were gay

I’m sorry your mom had to

I cared though

Please don’t think I didn’t care

Please don’t think I didn’t love you more than life

Or that you and your sister weren’t my first and last thought everyday for the last 24 years

On every new beer I drank I said “cheers!” and made a wish on you

And in drunken, rambling conversations

Between the “fucks” and “shits”

I spoke of you

How proud I was of you

How proud I am

Please don’t think the nights you fell asleep without a kiss from me

I didn’t sneak a peek through the crack in your bedroom door

Just to watch you sleep

And thank you

Thank you for you

Thank you for being more than I could have dreamt

Junior

You did my name prouder than I

Love Dad