He registers embarrassment because
I grinned at him, although my smile had
no relevance to any of his flaws –
of course I never meant to make him sad.

Her feelings have been bruised. With hurt she’s full,
and so she flails internally at those
she says she loves but holds responsible.
Her pain’s the only clarity she knows.

Apparently it isn’t rare to find
such instances of misdirected blame.
I’ve friends and relatives, acute and kind,
who seek to give their sadness someone’s name
beside their own, their vision steadfastly
away from self and dagger-shot at me.