To Forgive or to Not Forgive…That is a Question Indeed
To forgive or not to forgive…
A question indeed
But what of the apology
‘Tis of little consequence it seems…
When the past surfaces
To upset ambitious dreams
And when the single question becomes plural…
Invocations of multiple possibilities
Adding layers and complexity
Did the capture induce the confession…
Comprehension of indignation
When the victims start naming names
The shattering of a pattern…
Denials, delays, and disinformation
Too often supplemented with “but” to justify
Acknowledging, but only when caught…
Reveals the flaw of character
And immediate expectations of forgiveness
Can words justify a heinous action…
When harsh punishment
Seems an appropriate choice
Modernistic versions of redemption…
Temporarily halting indiscretions
As a safety net for their reputation
Yet what becomes of the aggrieved…
Balancing the scales
Requires mutual investment
Perhaps amnesty is the actual objective…
A pardon without obligation
Nor reparations
As if the words,” I’m sorry”…
Possess magical properties
To fix what was broken
Mending a wound that cannot be healed…
Unviolating the violated
Pouring wine in a cracked carafe
But when the venue is a public stage…
Attention seeking behavior
Spun to encircle a sympathetic chorus
Does the apology have another meaning…
Self-preservation often noted
Or to maintain a role in the great charade
Has the hurt been fully integrated…
Internalization and suppression
Add insult to injury
Should pain be dismissed so easily…
By the words of a culprit
Caught between iron and stone
Are a few words an acceptable substitute…
For irreparable harm inflicted
The damage can’t be undone
Can a debt be cancelled…
Without compensation
Either real or imagined
Indeed, the hypocrisy stands for measure…
Width and breadth of a glacier
Mostly hidden beneath the waves
I say nay to the privateers…
Seeking to steal a clean concious
From those who’ve they harmed
- Discovery of Distant Memories - March 26, 2024
- Narcissism Admonition - March 20, 2024
- An Ode to Flowers - March 18, 2024
Nicely penned and expressed Ralph. People develop many strategies in answer to their wrongs, and in the end it cannot placate the truth. Yet forgiveness personally, is the answer to be able to step away and move on. People may be able to forgive, but when betrayed rarely can it be forgotten. Great work
To forgive is to bring freedom to walk away. Yet some things just cannot be forgotten. Very well expressed, Ralph. Great work indeed.
Ralph I simply loved these two stanzas “As if the words,” I’m sorry”…Possess magical properties
To fix what was broken. Mending a wound that cannot be healed…Unviolating the violated, Pouring wine in a cracked carafe.” And I’m sorry does not often mean exactly what it implies. Often times things can be forgiven but not forgotten like both Tony and Phyllis stated already. Nice work.
I guess I’m a bit angry at the faux stage show called “Apology Hollywood.” This needs to stop, and now.