It wasn’t me this time

 I hate the idea of it

but it wasn’t me this time

The kid the cops caught

On fourth street

Trying to blow up

The mayor’s lawn ornaments

With gun powder

I made from my chemistry set

I spent a life time blowing things up

Just to see what things looked like

Pieces of pottery

Falling down around me

Like so much snow,

Knowing that this one time

I wasn’t the culprit

and hating the idea

that anyone might be,

air thick with the shards
of my unresolved guilt

glad that this one time

I’m not to blame

Sad that anyone is

After all these years

I ache to put

The pieces back together

And just can’t find them all

Or figure out

What order they go in.