Apologizing to Dragonflies

Hi

When I was nine

I killed a dragonfly with a tennis racquet, I accidentally smacked it

And it died

And so I cried

I swear I wasn't trying to hurt it, I wasn't trying to hurt you

Some people in life are a lot like dragonflies

They're kind and sincere and intelligent and wise

And they eat bugs and they give great hugs

And they truly mean the world to you

But sometimes with your hazy view you

Swing a racquet and you hurt them

You speak too quick and you curse them

So this is Josh's guide on how to apologize

To the people that you love and to

Dragonflies

Step one, be honest, 'cause the strongest words are true

Step two, admit that you were wrong but don't make it about you

Step three, in an apology, forgiveness isn't guaranteed

You haven't earned it by apologizing and if you're just now realizing

That you just want forgiveness, you have it all wrong

Step four, know that you've hurt them, the trust may be gone

Step five, do better next time, if they give you a next time

And then thank them for the next time if they give you a next time

I went to my mother's garden, before my heart could fully harden

And I trimmed the head of lilacs so that maybe I could buy back

The dragonflies respect

I was obsessed with an insect

I just wanted to make it better but some things can't be made better

Some things just hurt forever

Sometimes pain you can never remove

No matter who you talk to or whatever you do

I took the flowers that I had cut for the last hours

I placed the flowers down with hope and with shaky breath I spoke

I'm sorry

I'm sorry

I'm really, really, really, really sorry

I was swinging the racquet recklessly

And the second you got next to me

I hurt you

I understand if you can't forgive me

I understand if you can't trust me

You were the most beautiful thing in my life