Forgiveness

Everyone says that forgiveness is for

    the betterment of your heart

That forgiveness releases you to be free

I can understand that

But see, no one tells you how to find the key

    or gives you the combination to the lock

Even

if by fate

    you find how to unfasten the lock

They don’t tell you how to untangle your heart from the chains

    that you have spent years wrapping tightly around it

    Chains of time

    Chains of regrets

    Chains of promises unkept

    Chains of memories that just won't go away

   

The chains have become protection

You have used them to stop the bleeding

    Wrapped them in all directions

        trying to keep the blood from filling your chest

    But it still drips through the links

        At night you can hear each drop echo in your mind

       

Madness is found in the repeated noises of life

Other times the blood comes in a rush

Spilling down the stained links

Life has a way of jolting us

    even on the most sunny days

So, you add another chain,

    tightening it

    wrenching it in place

        until the pain is just a dull thumping

            just behind the beat of the drips

    Chains are not made to heal wounds

See, even if you get to the point of figuring out the knot of the past

    till you can see your heart

    How do you heal the wounds

        the nicks and cuts

        let alone the gashes left unattended?

    How do you removed the indentations of the chains

        that crisscross your story?

    How do you find the faith to let your heart be unprotected?

I don’t know if I am that strong...