''Would you forgive them and forget
Or would you only forgive or
Would you only forget or just get
Over your eternal sore? ''
Everywhere I go they usually ask
Me the same question,
Even where I work. This is a task
Which soaks emotion
And nostalgia in my heart, and pain
In my organs. Do they know
What forgiveness is again?
Did they say sorry to heal our sorrow?
Do they know that what they did
Was evil, wrong and cruel?
Do they know that we're intrepid
Despite their infernal
Acts and nature? Do they know that
Forgiveness is a complementary
Act to the gesture called sorry?
Do they know that even our dog, cat...
Would never forgive, forget before
They get asked sorry or
Their predators apologise?
Do they really think that I emphasise
This matter 'cause I'm crazy or fool?
Don't they feel the pain I'm undergoing
And all the sacrifices I am doing?
I am unforgivably and madly full
Of these interrogation. Why, oh God,
Are they not asked how
They feel, after all these good
Years of silence, looking, you know,
Into our eyes without saying sorry?
They don't care of our worry.
It's only Australia that had done
Well, the whole world has been gone
Respectfully crazy of joy and proud.
Every corner has seen, on the sky,
On seas, oceans, air, everywhere fly
Balloons written on them; said loud
''Sorry! ! Sorry! ! We really humiliated
You! ! Used you and even assassinated
You! ! '' Don't you think, dear brothers,
Sisters, fathers and mothers,
Forgiving and forgetting way
Before they accept their calamity,
Cruel slaughters, their impunity;
Apologise and stop their everyday
Semblances, would vigorously attest
How dumb we are, would deride
Our ancestors' cause and pride,
Who impounded freedom from the pest.
forgiving and forgetting is a good way to live. I like it, thanks. please read my poems..
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Yes, a terrible burden is placed on victims of systematic violence (and their descendants) when they are expected to forgive and forget, without restitution. Supposedly they should forgive first, so we all will not have to keep living in the past. Really this burden should be shouldered by descendants of the oppressors, but I rarely see them acting for the cause of reconciliation.