Retrospect

Too much confusion to take

Lying, yelling, and mistakes,

Distorted memories, aches,

Caused the worst faultlines to break

I only know from heartache

They existed, and they take

The life, shaking, out of us

What if all I do is take?

Learning

I saw her there, hurt and maimed,

Woman, broken, with no name

Sitting on the floor in shame

Shackles on her laying claim

To her deeds – of which were framed

In confusion, hurt, and blame

She, unnamed to all the world,

Was me – we were both untamed.

Growing

You walked up to me one day

After church, and then we prayed

You forgave me, and the way

Was lit for me, far away

Tears spilled, and I dared to say

"Thank you," for guilt didn't weigh

On my chest – pay had been done

Since then, I've tried to obey.

The Missing Piece

What's real – it blurs in my mind

What was me, and was I blind?

For recently they would find

More than cruelty – I'm twined

With a sickly brain behind

It all, and it was inclined

To unbind me from the rules

They placed upon me in kind.

Conclusion

Guilt doesn't make such amends

To sickness, health, or your friends

But much more was to my trends,

And labels don't ever bend

To complications, or lend

Credit, nor does it commend

How you bend yourself to them

All you can do is ascend.

(242 words)