Suzy Lamson

An Apology

There's a simple explanation.
I was distracted on the ladder.
Its rungs are narrow
and the picture--
askew, heavy in my hands
right angle corners tilting.
The hammer,
The hammer was heavy.
You know a 4-pound hammer
isn't the right tool
for nailing a picture to the wall.
I was holding the hammer in my hand
Paying careful attention to its heft,
the weight of its head on the shaft.
I know safety.
But my hand was sweaty
wet, slippery
& the wooden handle slipped
sliding out my closed palm grasp
and fell.
I certainly didn't intend it to.
Surely you understand that.
You can see how I didn't expect
you to be standing nearby,
so close to me
that the metal head
flat, squat, and heavy
would land on your toe.
I don't think anything's broken.
I know you say it hurts,
that the jarring sound scared you
as much as the impact itself.
Lots of people have had loads fall on them.
This isn't an exceptional experience.
Then why are you carrying on this way:
the tears, the wails?
Why the upset?
I explained it all to you.