Introduction

I Apologize is built on repetition. It is a litany of apologies that begins in discomfort and gradually deepens into self-examination. Each stanza confronts a different failure: not listening, not standing up, not showing support, not recognizing another person’s experience. What begins as a personal confession slowly expands into something broader, an acknowledgment that perspective often changes only when we find ourselves on the other side of the divide.

The strength of the piece lies in its shift. The refrain “I apologize” moves from individual regret to collective recognition, suggesting that understanding sometimes comes too late, and empathy often follows experience. The final turn carries the weight of that realization, widening the scope from one relationship to many.