Blame it on your dad —
how could he have travelled
every week, leaving you without
day-to-day companionship, leaving
you to be disciplined by Mom?

Blame it on the profs —
how could they have failed
to see your merit, to catch the gems
of genius in the late-night term paper,
how could they focus on the lapses?

Blame it on them —
you’ve practiced for years, omitting
thinking how they were right, seeing only
burning resentment. Blame it on them —
or accept responsibility and heal.