By Maria Martin

There’s no need to be unpleasant on a Sunday afternoon
when we have all had such a nice time.
He isn’t here to defend himself, and besides,
he is a father, and besides, he is a man of the cloth.

We were all having such a nice time,
but what you’re saying is very serious.
He is a father, and besides, he is a man of the cloth.
He has always been nice to me,

but what you’re saying is very serious
which is why I am concerned you are mistaken.
He has always been nice to me.
It’s like you want to destroy his reputation

which is why I am concerned you are mistaken.
You come out of the woodwork
like you want to destroy his reputation
when you never said anything before.

You come crawling out of the woodwork,
and we are all supposed to believe you
when you never said anything before.
Do you know what everyone has been saying about you?

And we are all supposed to believe you?
You never stop, which is why I am telling you now
what everyone has been saying about you
since you were seven years old.

You never stop, which is why I am telling you now
that everyone has been walking on eggshells around you
since you were seven years old
which is why no one has called to apologize.

Everyone has been walking on eggshells around you.
We know you will use our words against us
which is why no one has called to apologize
and besides, we did apologize, and besides,

we know you will use our words against us,
you are never satisfied,
and besides, we did apologize, and besides,
what do you want us to apologize for?

You are never satisfied.
I see you’re becoming emotional.
What do you want me to apologize for?
I have only ever loved you more than anyone has ever loved you.

I see you’re becoming emotional.
I am not surprised. I have done nothing wrong, but I am not surprised.
I have only ever loved you more than anyone has ever loved you.
Some people see the worst in everyone.

I am not surprised. I have done nothing wrong, but I am not surprised.
You have been like this since you were a child.
Some people see the worst in everyone, but
there is no need to be unpleasant on a Sunday afternoon.

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Maria Martin is a poet living in North Charleston, South Carolina, where she works to coordinate arts enrichment programs for public schools. Her poems have recently appeared in Pleaides, Diagram, and Poet Lore. mariasprogress.com