! ! Forgiveness Poem by Michael Shepherd

Running over the morning checklist -
magnanimity; forgiveness; simplicity of life;
compassion; contentment; truthfulness…

still, that reluctance, to forgive ‘them’…
however, questions put from heart to self
call out self-answer:

since we cling to that ‘otherness’
of others, we prohibit the oneness of ourself..

ego lies so close, so close to self,
as if it hides in self’s own shadow;

it is ego that will never quite forgive itself!
since ego clings with desperation
to the life it steals from life; so -

for give: for otherness,
give unity.. oh why
is something just so simple,
just so difficult?

Yet with the message,
warm its smile..