I Tried Forgiveness

I tried forgiveness on for size
It did not fit
It hurt my eyes and bruised my soul
I felt betrayed
I was told that it would make me whole
But they didn’t tell me this:
That unless the one forgiven
Accepts such a gift
Any effort is in vain
Though you may bestow it with good grace
The prevailing winds
Will blow it back in your face

Maybe I was mistaken
Perhaps the other did no wrong
So there is nothing to forgive
See how complicated it is

Best to let it all go
Take the first hurt
And every wound thereafter
Put them in a box
And burn the whole thing to a crisp
See how simple it is
What was once complicated is now
Just ashes and a bit of smoke
A disappearing wisp