guilt bites our insides
at night when everything is still
gnawing the lines of our stomach
with soured cream and bitter vinegar,
maybe conscience is sleepwalking,
but mother's scolding voice is sharp in the din,
we bite our tongue, pursing red-lined lips,
so we don't accidentally spill thorny secrets,
eyes closed tight, so we don't see
cracks in the wall of the confessional box,
we meander the wheat field and chapel hills
for a drop of blessed wine, the bloom of flower
fear of discovery and rejection cripples us,
making us afraid even of our shadows
black night is long and tortuous when the mind
is beset with doubts and uncertainties of our actions
left or right, black or white, or maybe grey,
choices pull and push till we are lost in grinding wheels
night turns to day, we find that life doesn't pause
at stop signs nor waits for us to board the right bus
we are selfish and flawed, yes, but there is a
rainbow waiting inside all of us, an unlit candle of hope
if we ask for forgiveness and in turn,
share that grace with others, our burden lightens
and finally, we can forgive and love
our self
Posted for: Poetry Jam : Forgiveness
and Theme Thursday: Life's Uncertainties
Picture credit: here
Grace, I do think you are right...if we recognize we are imperfect beings and then ask for forgiveness we can lighten our load (and, I think also the load of the person we ask). A thoughtful write here!
ReplyDeleteGrace, a powerful poem...these lines pulled me in...guilt bites our insides
ReplyDeleteat night when everything is still
gnawing the lines of our stomach
with soured cream and bitter vinegar.......
so true and so hard to forgive ourselves.
Such an excellent piece of writing and expressive emotions through your written vision.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this poem, should I say its your best one? cos I didn't read much of your writing as I recently found your blog, yet I loved this one, its touching, and I felt my thoughts are written there by someone who doesn't knows me..I loved each of the lines, but picking the ones that should get a share of limelight.."fear of discovery and rejection cripples us,
ReplyDeletewe are selfish and flawed, yes, but there is a
rainbow waiting inside all of us, an unlit candle of hope"
I wont say well done, I just can say thanks for writing :)
"and finally we can forgive and love"
ReplyDeleteLove this Grace:)
Wonderful! "we can forgive and love ourself"! Great words! The peace with your inside is the goal...
ReplyDeleteAn unlit candle of hope, most definitely.
ReplyDeleteLoved the motto - Forgive and Love :-)
ReplyDeletewe are selfish and flawed though a rainbow awaits in all of us....love the tension you build in this...and the relief as well on the forgiving...nicely done...
ReplyDeleteVery nice. So much truth.
ReplyDelete"Bitter vinegar", "cracks in the wall of the confessional box", "we meander the wheat field" and "life doesn't pause at stop signs" sing to my spirit.
Yeah we do bring a lot upon ourselves that doesn't need to be there, could surely have some relief if we realize is more often.
ReplyDeleteLots of descriptive imagery in this one and even more truth. Thanks so much for sharing this outstanding poem!
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic, and my favorite of the forgiveness poems. I especially love the uplifting ending: the rainbow within each of us, the hope, and the forgiveness of self - which is usually the hardest of all. Wonderful, Grace!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a poem which has much deep thought behind the words. i really liked your careful placement of adjectives throughout: bitter, thorny, confessional, chapel. they give your words a sharp focus.
ReplyDeleteWe all have the memories, the demons we must deal with .. I enjoyed where you took us in this poem ~ and where you brought us in the end.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, thoughtful poem, Grace.
ReplyDeleteI love this... especially how you turned it around from being lost in the night to learning to love from the power within. Very hopeful!
ReplyDeletethe unlit candle of hope speaks to me. your words are heartfelt. deep in the night it is easy for the demon voices to grab us. I'm thankful for the light of day and the candle in my heart.
ReplyDeletewow...do I know this one.
ReplyDeleteBlessings/empathy/compassion/heart...
to you and yours and all sentient beings _/|\_
wonderful poem on forgiveness. I especially like the lines:
ReplyDelete"gnawing the lines of our stomach
with soured cream and bitter vinegar,"
Very thoughtful poem that wonderfully expresses how we must be able to forgive others and ourselves before love can happen. Every line has so much meaning and flows so well into the next. I wonder though that once we have learned to love ourselves does that mean our candle becomes lit. I really like what you have written and enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great poem for Theme Thursday, thanks for sharing it.
God bless.
"guilt bites our insides"
ReplyDeleteI find that these feelings truly live in the stomach and ulcers and bowels
and your images draw me there. The Rainbow? Maybe that's in the throat? The heart, the shoulders free of strain. I love the physicality of feeling and healing in your poem.
Perhaps the ultimate task--to forgive and love ourselves despite it all. Thanks for visiting my blo as well!
ReplyDeletevery nice, Grace, and a good point about being able to forgive ourselves... there is hope
ReplyDeletewe are selfish and flawed, yes, but there is a
ReplyDeleterainbow waiting inside all of us
Loved those lines-a very hopeful poem.
Awesome.
well thought out, beautifully written and i LOVE the ending!
ReplyDelete♥
and in turn,
ReplyDeleteshare that grace with others,
That is the key...