Not Perfect Poem by Allysyn Bryant

Screaming. Yelling. Crying from anger. You and I were in a fight.
Neither of us will sleep. I’ll be crying and you’ll be up all night.
By tomorrow, you’ll figure everything’s fine, that it’s all good.
You’ll walk up to me; try to give me a hug, like a good dad should.
Only I won’t let you. I’ll deny the hug and walk by, like I always do
Whenever I’m hurting or when I’m mad at you.
Then in a few days time, we get over it all things go back to normal…
But this time it won’t. It can’t because I’ve realized the truth
You need me to be perfect. When I’m not. I can’t be. No one is.
Nothing I do seems to be good enough for you anymore.
Do my best in school. You tell me to do better.
Clean something. Think I get it right. You tell me to clean it again.
Anything I try. It’s not enough. You tell me I didn’t try hard enough.
You say that trying isn’t going to get me anywhere. Stop trying. Just do it.
And tonight I saw it all too clearly. Clear as day. I didn’t know what to say.
In my eyes you’re trying to fix your mistakes through me.
Not just yours but others too. Like you’ve messed up somewhere…
And you’re using me to try and make it right. Only you can’t.
Because I’m not perfect. I’ve tried to be, but I’ve failed.
Sorry I can’t be what you need me to be.
Sorry I can’t be perfect for you, and do everything right.

I’m sorry I’m not perfect. Forgive me.

December 17th,2008