''the nasty words she spoke to me
all those years ago kept me bound
to a ***** chain
i spit on her shoe in rebellion;
only to be smacked across the face
i bit her hand out of rage;
only to have my chain tugged harder
i was tortured by her
i was beaten by her
i was nothing to her
until, on a cold spring morning,
i woke with an intent
i do not remember what it was
or how it spoke to me
but i knew i wanted to listen
i strode towards her
with this newfound intent
but i did not strike
i did not spit
i did not bite
instead i opened my arms
and i hugged
and as the words that i
never thought would
leave my mouth finally did,
i felt a warm breeze as
my shoulders, always so
heavy, dropped
i forgive you
and once i forgave,
the chain faltered for
a moment, just a moment,
before it slipped off my neck
and fell into the abyss it came from
but do not be mistaken
i forgave, not for her,
but for my own healing
to have room to begin,
as my suffering held me back
i forgave and that is art
it is the art of forgiving.’’
Mar 11
Mar 11, 2026 at 12:32 PM UTC
''the nasty words she spoke to me
all those years ago kept me bound
to a ***** chain
i spit on her shoe in rebellion;
only to be smacked across the face
i bit her hand out of rage;
only to have my chain tugged harder
i was tortured by her
i was beaten by her
i was nothing to her
until, on a cold spring morning,
i woke with an intent
i do not remember what it was
or how it spoke to me
but i knew i wanted to listen
i strode towards her
with this newfound intent
but i did not strike
i did not spit
i did not bite
instead i opened my arms
and i hugged
and as the words that i
never thought would
leave my mouth finally did,
i felt a warm breeze as
my shoulders, always so
heavy, dropped
i forgive you
and once i forgave,
the chain faltered for
a moment, just a moment,
before it slipped off my neck
and fell into the abyss it came from
but do not be mistaken
i forgave, not for her,
but for my own healing
to have room to begin,
as my suffering held me back
i forgave and that is art
it is the art of forgiving.’’
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