forgiveness

inspired by John the Baptist's poem "fight or flight"

forgiveness

answers to answers

questions to questions

arriving in the middle

the face expresses

what dreams can't solve

the solvent purifies

the heart

but when awake

the answers become more questions

the soul is a bookend

i can't pray anymore

my knees no longer genuflect

there is an arthritic bible

in my conscience

i am sorry

but it's not enough

i am the question 

to my own answer

what dreams can't solve

the solvent purifies

in R.E.M. confession

i lie awake forever

a sleepwalking prayer.

erin-cilberto

1/4/2021

Reviews

[barleygirl]

The thing about forgiveness -- it's a moving target. Most days the whole shebang has evaporated from mind, but later it can bash around unexpectedly. Your poem shows how sketchy getting over life's injuries can be. In particular, I don't believe those who declare to have FULLY forgiven a true monster in one's life (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I don't believe them either, Margie...I think there is much denial going on.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

The more questions we ask the more answers we get, which in turn, stimulates more questions. In the end we are on a merry go round to nowhere, it can drive you nuts. Maybe thinking can be bad for you?

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

maybe it can, so true...thank you for your words, Chris.
j.

[Beano]

The unconscious can't be kidded and if it is troubled, it will trouble. Somethings can be remedied, others cannot, no mater how hard we wish they might. At least some solace, or a clarity of sorts, can be found when we write. Appreciate the depth here and for making me think, Jacob!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you so much for your understanding words, Beano,
j.

[Laura Kate]

Our questions fill the mind and finally line our faces. There's a sense of going around in circles, every time you feel closer to the answer you only find further un-answered questions. If you're the question, and you have answer.. are we not our own solution? Instead, the solvent purifies and we're stuck in limbo. Next comes the frustration and guilt. We just do these things to ourselves, don't we?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, we do, LouBelle, yes we do.
thank you for your words,
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

Ah but questions beget more questions ...
Was I right ... does it matter?

What could I have done differently?
Don't you know?

Can prayer help if I can't kneel?
Am I supposed to know?

Maybe the only answer is in the mirror and the dream. But if the solvent will not solve the issue then ... I have no solution.

I think I will need to ponder this one further.
Thanks for awakening the brain cells j.
Take care ... be safe.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your understanding, Ted,
j.

[Mauricio Montoya]

answer to answer
question to question
but are we willing to forgive and forget, a lot of times the answers we seek are deep inside,
thank you for sharing

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, very deep inside...
thank you for your kind words, Mauricio,
j.

[Mauricio Montoya]

wow! so deep we don't want to dig them out

[Lorry]

I love the soul as a bookend and the over-riding thought that once we found answers so easy to come by, through the never ending cup overflowing with youthful energy.
As we lose that energy, along comes contemplation, where we have the concentration, as well as the ability to sit still for five minutes as we ponder, not always finding what we want but with a "to be continued" attitude.
Now, all I want is the seat, pretending I am in deep concentration, until giving myself away by snoring.
Sometimes that spark returns and brings along an idea that looks good in the daylight, but returns to the shadows of night as an imposter, finding its way back amongst the question marks between those bookends.
And then that virus came along and I thought I had a poltergeist when the bookends flew off the mantle and knocked me even more senseless. 😊

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, Lorry...they help me understand me a little more...the energy lately is taking a hiatus.
j.

[Orange]

Why would you need be sorry if you think someone is not enough.
Feeling are mutual

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for the read, Orange. Actually, the speaker feels the sorry is not enough---
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

the dream world ... real world ... and prayer .. and somewhere in between them maybe .. really intriguing poem says i! for me .. its the stuff that meditations are made of...
"what dreams can't solve
the solvent purifies" ... i may have no idea what you are talking about but ... if i were stoned (not saying i ever have been, mind you) i would just say "Wow, man!" ;)
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for seeing something worthwhile here, E.
the answers lie too deep.
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

deep indeed .. there are some pretty "heavy" books on dreams and meanings .. Freud and Jung and lots of "brainy" people ;) just last night i had a dream that disturbed me and so looked it up as best I could to find that the meaning was nothing what i thought it would be .. and a very common one for people to have. ..personally . i am fascinated with the "between waking and sleeping" part of my world ... its almost lucid dreaming but not quite ... and always just out of reach .. like you say .. just too deep ;)