Forgiveness

Forgiveness means releasing the grip that the past has on the present, or softening towards the pain that is felt. The painful sensation could be in the form of disappointment, shame, fear, confusion or hurt. Forgiveness may not come overnight. It’s a practice of letting go, again and again until what once clenched begins to loosen. In that space, we breathe and begin again.

The Rest, Margaret Atwood

The rest of us watch from beyond the fence
as the woman moves with her jagged stride
into her pain as if into a slow race.
We see her body in motion
but hear no sounds, or we hear
sounds but no language; or we know
it is not a language we know
yet. We can see her clearly
but for her it is running in black smoke.
The cluster of cells in her swelling
like porridge boiling, and bursting,
like grapes, we think. Or we think of
explosions in mud; but we know nothing.
All around us the trees
and the grasses light up with forgiveness,
so green and at this time
of the year healthy.
We would like to call something
out to her. Some form of cheering.
There is pain but no arrival at anything.

Guide: Noelle Lim

Image credit: Hale Tat