James Mclain Poet Free verse

You Don’t Have to Forgive to Fly

They told me healing comes with open - hands --
And mercy --  written in the sand --
Like I’m supposed to wash -- the blood away --
And call it grace, and say -- okay--

But some goodbyes don’t need --  amens --
Some doors are better --  left as ends --
And I don’t owe -- you peace of mind --
When you broke mine a --  thousand times --

You don’t have to forgive to --  fly --
You don’t have to forget to -- survive --
Some scars --  don’t simply fade --

they just remind --
That you were brave enough to walk --  that line --

I packed my tears in --  cardboard boxes --
Left your name -- in broken locks and --
Every street we ever loved
Now just leads me -- back to you I said --
I don’t rewrite --  our history Books --
I just stopped -- letting it rewrite all of you --

So here’s to hearts that learned -- to bend --
Without pretending -- we’re still friends --
You were a chapter -- not of truth --
I outgrew you -- like worn-out shoes --

You don’t have to forgive to -- fly --
You don’t have to forget to -- rise --
You can move on with open -- eyes --
And leave the ghosts on the other -- side --

I didn’t heal --  by closing doors --
I healed by finding who you were --before --
I don’t hate --  I simply  
choose --
A life that doesn’t include --  you --

And -- that’s not cruel --
That is -- strength --
That is -- freedom --
That is -- 
All  Proof -- you Need right Now --

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Paige Hind January 17, 2026 at 3:40 PM Powerful. I could not write it better than this...kudos,