Ooh boy, this is a doozy....
I wrote this, like, 2 years ago chat. It's bad but also kinda good, in a way ???
[TW, S/H implications (only briefly)]
They say forgive and forget
But I can't forgive the words you weaved
The lies about my body
Your lips were molded to deceive
I used to be a wistful child
Imagination limitless at that age
But soon I grew and realized
Tossed the key to my cage
Old and older I grew
The sparkle in my vision lost
For I had witnessed far too much
My heart cold as icy frost
Now I'm all alone
My friends had all but left
Then is when I realized
I'll fail life's mental test
They say forgive and forget
But I won't forget what hurts
All the tears I've shed
And all the days of long sleeved shirts
However I might forgive
If you can prove yourself to me
That you'll prevent this endless loop
Of a painful infinity
@Phr0gg13
the rhyming here is so strong. good job!
@Heather225 Thank you !! Sorry for the late reply, I kinda forgot about this place because i've actually been doing pretty good !!
@Phr0gg13
what a wonderful thing to hear1 I'm soooo happy for you!
@Phr0gg13 This poem captures the deep pain of betrayal and the struggle to hold onto hope after enduring hurt. I loved the imagery - raw and powerful, highlighting the loss of innocence and the difficulty of forgiving when trust has been shattered.
Now, I'm about to cross a fence with my loudspeaker and say this to you (you may need to hear it, or not—if not, feel free to file a noise complaint).
I get why people say "forgive and forget." Someone failed to show up on time for a dinner appointment? Fine, I’ll forgive and forget. But if the same thing happens three times in a row, with no reason... Well, I may not be the best person to say this. I’m not exactly known for my forgiveness (Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and all the dead Nobel laureates in heaven— rolls their eyes)
But here’s the thing: if forgiveness feels like a burden on you, I think those are the types of wrongs that shouldn’t be forgiven by you. You can forgive yourself—that’s powerful stuff. Forgive yourself for tolerating less, for not knowing better, or whatever sins you feel you’ve committed. But forgiving others? I don’t think that’s really our place. There’s this concept—"Pardon is the prerogative of the sovereign."
If the wrong committed against you feels like it’s too big for you to forgive, or if it’s something that affects society or humanity as a whole (like assault, abuse, murder), or in general if the idea of forgiving them feels like a burden on you - then it’s not your place to forgive for that act. A sovereign—whether that’s the law, a judge, God, or whatever higher authority—can choose to forgive or not. You don’t have to forgive them to move on.
Pardon is not a right of the wrongdoer; it’s mercy. If you feel burdened by granting that mercy, you can simply choose not to. You’re not obligated to grant that mercy. You don’t need to execute it in order to move on. It’s not your place to, and you’re not a bad person if you can’t. Nobody will judge you for it. Especially, I won’t judge you for it.
Take care.
@azurePond So, what I meant is that - the whole idea of forgiveness comes from not wanting to carry around resentment, pain and anger. It’s like a way to free yourself from those emotions. But here’s the thing—you can totally release those feelings without actually forgiving someone. It’s all about finding peace in whatever way works for you. Maybe that’s through forgiveness, or maybe it’s through other things like setting boundaries, working through the hurt, or just deciding not to let the past control you anymore. The main point is that you don’t have to keep holding onto that emotional weight forever. You can still move on, even if forgiveness isn’t part of the deal. It’s all about finding the path that helps you heal, whether forgiveness fits into it or not. <3
@azurePond Such a deep insight that I didn't even think to imagine back when I had written this ! To be honest, I think I was just venting about the fact that people have bullied me for YEARS and then have the audacity to try and be friendly like nothing had happened ! Their actions burn deep into my soul, however I'm someone who believes that people can change and be forgiven, they just have to be able to prove it. I think that belief of mine is what I was overall alluding to, but this is an old poem so I don't think I could ever regain the true meaning !!
Honestly honored that you could find this much meaning, and your words mean so much to me ^^
@Phr0gg13 Honestly, your perspective on forgiveness and change is really powerful—it’s not easy to hold onto that after being hurt. I admire that. Old poems might lose their original meaning for us, but I think they take on new layers over time, like a reflection of where we’ve been and where we are now. And hey, I’m just glad I could offer a perspective that resonated! Your words definitely deserved to be seen that way. 😊
