Reconcile,
Forgive as our Father would.
Easier said than done.
But I don’t like leaving things undone,
Says I,
With half painted books and
Unwritten skies.
But closure
Is what I strive
For.
Unkindness,
It’s led me here.
Your vocabulary was impressive,
But why’d you have to be so…
Thoughtlessly dismissive?
Careless and bitter and oppressive?
I know where I get my bad habits from —
At least my mother gave me compassion.
So, that’s what I have now,
And despite your unforgiveness,
I hope you did forgive.
My mother says you loved me,
But I guess you wanted me to do
The giving.
Old man, what’d you expect?
Your blood is my blood.
I forgive but I can’t forget,
And you don’t have to say it twice,
You know, ’cause I got it from you.
Once my mind is made up,
There’s nothing in the world you can do
To sway me or bend me or break me.
But oh,
Your blood is my blood.
And we will forever be connected.
At least my mother taught me
Flexibility
To ease out this rigidity,
These edges that soften for
Moments,
Just a moment,
So I can forgive and move on —
Reconcile,
Try, just try,
For once in your life,
Forget the world that you bear,
Keep those words to yourself,
And give me the love you never share.
