The Top Heavy Man Makes A Request

Here's another poem born of my long hours of driving. I didn't really write it all in my head, but I thought out a lot of the issues on the road, and typed them up when I got home. This deals with the issue of guilt and asking for forgiveness. Originally, the idea is that the speaker is asking a fellow human for forgiveness, but while thinking about it I realized it also works well as a prayer to God. I think that's telling, in that our offenses are against both God and man.

Please help,

I cannot bear this weight

it pinches

right at the nape

of my neck

it pulls

my head low

forcing my eyes

to focus on the patterns

my tears imprint

in the dust

only you can relieve me

for this guilt is ours

born from when I

wounded you

your pain was righteous

caused by the unrighteous

this my fitting due

oh please

come to my aid

now my knees

join my tears

planted in dust

can any harvest come

from such sowing

even were the seeds to flourish

the fruit would be bitter

born of salt and blood

will you at least

sit or stand beside me

until my crop is raised

I’ll eat the fruit

if only you will stay

by my side

pain lessened

by the nearness of one

who cares

despite my curses