Over time, the walls of self-defense become chinked with wear
Overgrown by ivy, flowering each spring with climbing roses,
The origins for brick and mortar fade in memory
The enemy’s conniving and manipulation forgotten with each passing season
Over time, the story of the their cruelty mutates
Into a softer narrative of the human frailty found within their souls
And the need to forgive and forget their heartless and vindictive natures
Grows because I must repair my damaged spirit
Over time, the protective barriers seem superfluous
My internal longings to belong create false hope
That “this time” will prove different—better
That somehow they’ve gentled with time
Foolish me—to pull down the walls, to retell the tale
To desire their love
Foolish me—to provide them opportunity, to crush me
Under the weight of my forgiveness
Overgrown by ivy, flowering each spring with climbing roses,
The origins for brick and mortar fade in memory
The enemy’s conniving and manipulation forgotten with each passing season
Over time, the story of the their cruelty mutates
Into a softer narrative of the human frailty found within their souls
And the need to forgive and forget their heartless and vindictive natures
Grows because I must repair my damaged spirit
Over time, the protective barriers seem superfluous
My internal longings to belong create false hope
That “this time” will prove different—better
That somehow they’ve gentled with time
Foolish me—to pull down the walls, to retell the tale
To desire their love
Foolish me—to provide them opportunity, to crush me
Under the weight of my forgiveness
Copyright 2014 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman
