Not Yet Damascus

Mea Culpa

25 Mea Culpa Once in grassfield clime, A decade and beyond in time A pretty lass Through a friend-sister I met. Give me the right to make a pass And her affection shall be mine I bet. Her image in a picture I had seen Only to lust after it for days on end in sin, Yet how true it is My heart out to her flew with ease And after her with determination I went As if by some authority sent; And by the goddess of love, My heart to her flew like a dove. And slowly I began the stalking Hoping to get her into talking, But each time the sound of my bike she heard She took to her heels and fled. Having noticed, Once I came without notice As in I rolled The sound of my bike a lull; There she sat with stares Having been taken unawares. Alas she smiled in defeat Acknowledging my strategy a feat. For days to come we stayed At the game of cards we played With I slowly inching in Hoping someday to talk my way in. And the day came And after so many card games Out by the door in the dark 26 I sang my tale of love like a lark. All about me she cherished But there was another she relished And just so much love had she for one man, Only to find him a cheat And so ran into my arms in a fit. She was to find me hardly much better My love for another woman’s I did batter Thinking this old new-comer to exploit Only to lose all by this exploit. My betrayal she did find out And her love for me (with so much pain and hate) ran out. I was young, foolish and stupid Yet my honest plea was rejected Even though I was so young, Once was too much to go this wrong. Time has come and gone But her hurt and anger I see still seething, More fruits of hate and hurt to bear. Yet once more must I dare My apology to bare. You were yourself forgiven So take not this plea for a given But let this hurt and hate Of ages long gone now abate. I ask not for another chance As this never could be But that understanding be given a chance For us true humans and not monsters to be; For truly time with time must all neutralize So let not the faults of adolescence Be permitted an adult to condemn. Mea Culpa! ...