Crumbling Walls

Poem on forgiveness

Photo by from

Multiple messages
on multiple days
keep saying to me
forgive
forget
forgiveness
that is the way

I thought I’d moved on
I’d thought I’d let go
but that was the mask
of my wounded ego

I’d built up tall walls
I’d created thick barriers
to protect my broken heart
from hate and harm carriers

My fortified fortress
what I thought would protect me
kept the pain trapped inside
and continued to infect me

Finally
to get a better understanding
of what I needed to do
I looked up the meaning
and went to the root
all along
I’d had it all wrong
to forgive
never meant — to untie
the truth of the matter
I could no longer deny

To give completely, without reservation
is the opposite yet actual self-preservation

My choice in moving forward
I can continue on in fear
with walls held high
Or
I can step bravely forward
with heart open wide

I choose the latter