Whatever mistakes I’ve made
in my life, let them be forgiven
for the planting of milkweed.
May whomever I’ve wronged
understand I did what I could
to help the birds, the whales,
my every neighbor and child.
Whatever mistakes I’ve made,
understand I meant to be kind,
to help, to honor the lesser gods,
forgotten, in need of praise
and their own celebration.
—
Paula J. Lambert of Columbus, Ohio, has published several collections of poetry including As If This Did Not Happen Every Day (Sheila-Na-Gig, 2024) and Uncertainty (The Only Hope We Have) (Bottlecap, 2023). Her work has been recognized by PEN America and supported by the Ohio Arts Council, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, and the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. More at www.paulajlambert.com.
