If I earned pardon
from all concerned, together
with permission to resume
childish routines by
virtue of this forgiveness…

If I built striated muscles
to pull out all past moments,
like rotting teeth,
and replaced
them with fine-feeling porcelain…

If I, through a lifetime of
thankless service, should silently
claim the gentle right of forgetting…

I would never dare
deserve this touch of yours.

(for Julie)