Best To Err Is Human To Forgive Divine Poems
Believing that marriage was ordained of God;
that, like a seed, it needed constant nurturing,
she sowed her deep devotion with a hope
that stretched beyond an ordinary scope.
That hope scanned schisms that had left her desolate-
until it reached the heavens with her prayers.
Time and time again, her spouse complained or failed to do small things
essential to cementing the marriage bond.
With unusual restraint, she held her tongue, forgave. . . and listened.
If matrimony were the fire in a hearth, she supplied the kindling and the logs;
then lauded him for twigs that on occasion he tossed in.
Some nights she’d lay a weary head upon the chest
of the one she called her husband (when he was fast asleep and didn’t know).
In those moments, she felt the beat of that heart he never showed to her.
With humbleness she supplicated God
that she might find connection with her mate.
She wondered and she wondered why. . .if thoughts, invisible,
which were transmitted to the Lord, were able to be recieved by Him,
why could not her words, directly spoken to the one on earth she loved, be heard?
Daily on her knees, she telegraphed celestially with a faith most extraordinary. . .
and wisdom came. Her love would not be broken, and she grew.
The seed she’d planted took root too and grew until there came a time. . .
she laid a graying head upon the chest
of one that was her husband (not just in word only);
a someone who now watched HER as she drifted off to sleep.
With his heartbeat strong in her ear,
she heard him whisper softly, “I love you” as he kissed her cheek goodnight.
For Audrey Carey's "To Err Is Human to Forgive Divine"
I'm so tired of hearing that old cliche' ~
"It's water under the bridge," let it go.
Those words are never the right thing to say
when I'm already feeling kinda low
What if water under the bridge dries up
and can't carry my mistakes out to sea?
To forgiveness should I raise a full cup?
What cliche will I hear to comfort me?
"To err is human, to forgive, Divine"
Yet another cliche' in stark contrast
Self forgiveness often takes much more time
Only changing the future, not the past
Burning bridges is like playing with fire
All too often it leads to getting burned
Wisdom is the greatest pacifier
Cliche's are the lessons others have learned
Daniel Turner and Jenna Logan
African-American and abusive, my late step-dad
was a reverse racist:
an army sergeant; a Vietnam vet; and, a backhand,
face-hitting sadist.
I once bemoaned that I was a white child
(as if it were my fault!?)
and that he was black and resentful of me.
So, once in reckless revolt
against his ongoing abuse,
I rebelled under my breath
and uttered the "n" word at him
(so he beat me nearly to death).
Bruised, I never uttered that word again;
then mom and he divorced
as I grew older (which freed us at last!):
now unrivaled (with no remorse),
I suddenly was the man of the house; and life
for us seemed less stormy.
For the first time in years we lived without abuse;
and, at last, we were a family.
Then I got religion and met God;
and gave myself to Christ.
It was the best thing I ever did!
Born again, I thus was sufficed.
So the scars of my step-dad's abuse which
for years I had repressed
began to heal and disappear; and so I became
less and less oppressed.
Now old, my erstwhile step-dad developed
advanced swelling of the lung;
I had not forgiven him yet (back when
I was still angry and young).
Not yet able to forgive him for the abuse that
made our lives so unbearably grim,
I nevertheless still realized that the weight
of still having hatred for him
was far worse than my pain. I recognized
that in life we all transgress
and come short of God's glory: so, moved by
His grace and forgiveness,
I made the right choice to forgive him;
for me a daily, ongoing process,
I at last began to let go of the anger
and truly begin to move past the mess
that was my step-dad's legacy to me. Also, I
began to forgive God;
for He was not to blame for him (whose own
father, too, did not spare the rod).
Still, tho' I had chosen to forgive (him) and let go,
he was unmoved and unchanged as ever:
but I, however, realized that what truly mattered
was that forgiveness set me free forever!
When at last he died, I had already completely
let go (so that he was forgiven).
Now I can only ask of God whether my step-dad
was changed from his glimpse of heaven?
Jesus turned the other cheek
Now we extend the olive branch
During this special holiday season
Let us make peace
Open our hearts to those who have hurt us in the past
Can we live in Christ’s image?
Or will we decline to pass the peace pipe
Take this challenge
Tear down barriers that separate us
Unblock poets whose words left scars that need to heal
Add more dignity to Poetry Soup
Spread good will to all
As our Savior intended
While we celebrate His birthday
The branch is hanging…waiting for you to accept
*Entry to Audrey's "To Err Is Human, to Forgive Divine"
Merry Christmas to all!
Lest my human part be of mind deceived
To err is human, to forgive divine
Of many stresses of mind, soul relieved
Of my heart my soul and mind be refined!
I be not deceived my God be not mocked
To err is human, to forgive divine
I will do the talk as I do the walk
First Adam fell from divine into time!
Judgment schedule is to run it’s full course
To err is human, to forgive divine
In time I must learn that love is my source
To learn that divine love is my life line!
Forgiveness virtue relieves judged voice
To err is human, to forgive divine
To forgive is divine it is my choice
Toward love’s nature I lean in recline
He that loves not knows not, my God is Love
To err is human, to forgive divine
We must be partakers of the above
As we live divine is the one lifeline!
The lust of the flesh is the pride of life
To err is human, to forgive divine
Lust of the eyes reveals not life, but strife
The source love is nature of heaven’s wine!
Let us forgive of love’s nature and live
To err is human, to forgive divine
Judgment died on the cross, that love could give
Love hath relieved mind’s self of the death whine!
For Contest: Forgiveness
In Honor of: Audrey Carey
Woven in Silk Threads of Love
(Apropos Us and the Children)
Time tested love, bruised
and battered,
lay like littered crystals
on the steel plate stage of life;
dismembered and crumbled
like a stale cookie
whose particles
have lost
their electromagnetic-like
attractiveness.
Ingredients of envious spice
inhibits any and all adhesiveness—
that tough threading love folds and kneads.
Yet, the sprinkling of forgiveness
knits and weaves the web
of diverse unity of understanding—
cocooning new beginnings:
Indeed, the most fragile butterfly wings
have endured—soared in monarch majesty—
defying time tested, treacherous winds
that the teeming silk of love forever spins.
Yes, to err is human; to forgive divine;
may eternal blessings forever twine
this tender love of yours and mine.
11 December 2010
Sinner or Saint
==========
We all sin and we are sinners
We are saints upon God’s Grace, the Giver
The way of the cross, God and man entwine
To err is human, to forgive divine
Blind we are, and can’t see the truth
Pretender wins the trust of youth
A deaf to good news, unable to decline
To err is human, to forgive divine
Great mind leads us into the system
Worldwide, the weak flow to its streams
In the lowness of spirit, wrongful is enshrine
To err is human, to forgive divine
Saints we are, since purified, still a whiner
For Jesus did not come for the righteous, but sinners
We are sinners and saints and that shall remain
To err is human, to forgive divine
7th place winner
"To Err Is Human to Forgive Divine" Contest
Sponsored by: Audrey Carey
Contest Judged: 1/8/2011
Can you forgive someone who has stolen your life?
A person with full faculties of the knowledge that
they have invaded your every ounce of pureness.
With only the craving of self gratification, with no
concerns of the damage inflicted upon the naive victim.
Life as you have known it to be is no longer, therefore,
the changes require extensive mind and body alterations.
Not given a choice confuses the brain to believe this
person deserves and should receive the same destruction.
Then you ponder the satisfaction of their demise only
to feel ashamed when you get enjoyment from the thought.
Seeking the answer deep down in your soul while
struggling with the transformation of your future life,
you ask yourself if this person is worthy of the
compassion that is required to mend your sufferings.
The only answer that can possibly ease the curing
process of this human err, however intentional, must
be divine forgiveness to begin your inner self healing.
Yes, you can forgive what you shall never forget.
Contest: "To Err Is Human, To Forgive Divine"
no apology
my pain: inconsequential
your conscious is seared
Eileen Manassian
While Jesus was on the cross, he prayed, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." He forgave even when no apology was offered. He forgave the ones who were the cause of his death. I find that SO hard to do...It's the hardest part about being a follower of Jesus. To be able to forgive someone who will not admit to wrong doing...takes divine strength. "To err is human; to forgive, divine." I've also found out that if you are always silent about ill treatment, people will take advantage of you. They will take your silence for cowardice and think that they can walk all over you. When Jesus was struck by the high priest's servant, he did not remain silent. He questioned him, "Why do you hit me?" I believe we should speak out against what is wrong. People may never acknowledge wrongdoing, but it needs to be said. There is a fine balance...I am struggling in trying to find where that balance is...
I'm so tired of hearing that old cliche' ~
"It's water under the bridge," let it go.
Those words are never the right thing to say
when I'm already feeling kinda low
What if water under the bridge dries up
and can't carry my mistakes out to sea?
To forgiveness should I raise a full cup?
What cliche will I hear to comfort me?
"To err is human, to forgive, Divine"
Yet another cliche' in stark contrast
Self forgiveness often takes much more time
Only changing the future, not the past
Burning bridges is like playing with fire
All too often it leads to getting burned
Wisdom is the greatest pacifier
Cliche's are the lessons others have learned
Written with Daniel Turner ~ Hands shaken in friendship
Humanity :(Poem).
“To err is human, to forgive, divine.”
“The Seven Social Sins are:
Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principle.
Smoldering wreckage,
Tear-stained haze.
Those were the dawns
Of the early days.
They shouldn’t have flown
Or so it appeared
But they thundered through
That atmosphere.
We designed beasts of beauty
With marvelous, unstable bellies.
But they flew!
Oh how they flew!
Until they didn’t.
And it was little wonder
When we realized
We failed .
We rode out on a dream
And briefly,
We woke up.
The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.
Crime against the individual is the equivalent of crime against humanity.
“Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.
“God save us from people who mean well.”
Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.”
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
We can know only that we know nothing. And that is the highest degree of human wisdom.”
“I love mankind, he said, "but I find to my amazement that the more I love mankind as a whole, the less I love man in particular.”
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” “Let the first act of every morning be to make the following resolve for the day. I shall not fear anyone on Earth.
Ages of experience have taught humanity that the commitment of a husband and wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society.
When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society.
ON THE LEVEES OF TIME…
(APROPOS WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE)
When the levees broke…when the levees broke…
When the levees broke…
When the levees broke the world awoke
From a submerged reality
Flowing beneath the bridge over trouble waters.
The copious tears of the domed encampment
Could not wipe away the fears
Nor cleanse the minds of lost hopes floating
In the midst of the mockery I see:
This land, this water, this ransacked America!
Shame is a white cloud reflected from the dark
Side of the moon;
Guilt seeks its own level; but the Lord said:
Vengeance is Mine…
Indeed to err is human; to forgive divine…
Mercy on we mere mortals!
When the levees broke…when the levees broke…
When the levees broke…
Stitches that bound the veil and scale of justice
Were ripped at the seam;
And it seemed that the bowels of hell
Loosened their pregnant flow of terror
And unseen evil revealed itself to an intoxicating world
Drunk with deception.
No receding water can was away the pain;
The level of grief remains.
Like a wrinkle in time, minds of survivors flood
With memories of Middle Passage Crossing;
deferred dreams of festering bloated bellies
Of the dreamers; dreamers of a new Diaspora;
Dreamers drifting on the rafts of new leanings
Indeed we shall rise again from the depths
Of hell’s waters;
Sail on the tides of new beginnings; no political anchors
Nor the barges of time
Can hold us in check or prohibit our rising.
At our soaked wake, we shall keep a ripened vigil;
The shadowed veil shall ever be rent.
All shall be naked before the world; truth revealing
Its self like a burning bush;
And we shall come over into a new dwelling: a city
Not made by hands of corruption.
And the Orleans of our beginnings here shall not fade
From these memories:
When the levees broke…when the levees broke…
When the levees broke.
Great is one who ACCEPT ONEs errors
Human has weakness of pointing fingers
And hunting scapegoat to camouflage own errors
Temporary can be relief from criticism that errors trigger
Others may get convinced but guilt in conscience ever lingers
Greater is one who ACCEPT OTHERs errors
Acceptance relieves the burden of punishing other
Generates atmosphere for searching solution together
Positivity leading path better, committed error on backburner
Others love and adore for treating as human, vulnerable to error
Greatest is one who FORGIVES other errors
Ever heard complaint from trees, mountains, river ?
Humans use, abuse, but Natures bounty shower forever
Forgiveness is subtle respecting own Soul through Soul in other
Humans ought to learn from HIM, despite sins Salvation path HE offers
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hitendra Mehta
Entry for Members contest : "To err is human to forgive Divine" by Audrey Carey
Midst covenant sealed by fidelity
assured along HIS immutable Word,
I, being carnal, succumbed to luring temptation
as a faith-traitor, flirting with the world
oblivious of my vow to love GOD with all of my heart...
...Guilty was I of betraying my Saviour
grieving Him and reproaching His name---
then when I confessed* my sins and errors
He, verily faithful, pardoned me completely
along His compassion that drew me more intimately to Him.
Meanwhile, my soul languished, victimized in a scammed venture
cognizant that the culprits were whom
I considered my trusted friends, serving as vessels of blessings---
they fooled me, rendering my contract with them as futile
hence, nullifying my investments --- all by their deceit…
...Struggling hard to accept their “sorry”
I agonized bearing the load of my justice-plight
Thus, I prayed to be a true “forgiveness-giver”
Grateful to God that I received His wondrous grace...
Indeed, “To err is human; to forgive, divine.”**
*1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
**Alexander Pope, in the poem "An Essay on Criticism", Part II, 1711.
February 7, 2020
2nd place, "Famous poetic lines 2" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Silent One; judged on 2/9/2020.
"To err is human; to forgive, divine" - Alexander Pope
a faux pas
easy enough to understand
deceit and treachery
not so much
backstabbing
shameless betrayal
far beyond comprehension
stirs injury to the core
it is a divine blessing
the best gift to oneself
to find it in one’s heart
to forgive
to let go
and move on
AP: 3rd place 2022, 3rd place 2020
Submitted on February 2, 2020 for contest FAMOUS POETIC LINES 2 sponsored by SILENT ONE - RANKED 3RD