Helen J Radford Poet Free verse

Forgiveness

You ask me to forgive you. 
You ask me to excuse the hurt you caused, 
the emotional injury you inflicted, 
and the scars that won't heal. 

You ask me to accept apologies. 
You want to hug my bruised memories 
and caress my pummelled spirit, 
to impart some platitude. 

You ask me to find it in my heart 
to love you.  Did you love me 
when you battered me into submission 
without remission, did you love me then? 

Strange love to hurt so much, 
I recoil from your touch as you 
try to stroke my injured pride. 
I scream inside, but no sound comes out. 

I trusted you and you betrayed me. 
I loved you once but you waylaid 
and raped my certitude, your credibility 
discredited by your duplicity. 

So, you want me to forgive you? 
Do you know what I want in return? 
I want to release my incarcerated memory. 
I want to trust, to dip my toe in the water 

of deliverance and tango to the rhythm of love. 
I want to move forward.  Propel myself toward 
the future.  Yes, I forgive you, for 
in forgiving you I liberate myself.

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Twala Promise February 17, 2018 at 11:46 PM Wow what a beautiful piece u wrote Helen. Forgiveness heals and helps one to move forward with life indeed.

Line Gauthier February 16, 2018 at 8:19 AM Wow - what a strong poem with a powerful message of determination, survival and resilience. The phoenix rises! Superbly done, Helen.