Regrets

I watch a young man pacing
shouting in frustration at his wife
across his cell phone while
his daughter sits
lonely in the car

"Are you ok?" I ask
"Sorry" he says “I
didn't mean to bother you"

his palms strike
the steering wheel
so I approach yet again
"Here. For you and your daughter"

I offer a fold of money
his daughter smiles
"Are you sure" he asks

As he takes the
paper from my hand
I am sure

I hope he takes
care of his daughter
that he doesn't pick her
up an hour late
from school

that he doesn't make her choose
between a helmet
and a dress for Easter

that he doesn't miss the
birth of his first grandson
or the two more that follow

that he rights the wrongs
of an old man who watched
life repeat it's frustration
having the hope for change