The Olive Branch
A poem on forgiveness
Forgiveness sets you free, so they say, but this is easier said than done. We all know that some things can be impossible to forgive.
Still, forgiveness releases us. While a person who forgives anything may seem a tad generous, accomplishing it breaks open the shackles of hatred and anger. It takes a lot of unnecessary energy to be angry.
We have come to the part of the year when forgiveness becomes a precious gift for the person we are forgiving and ourselves. Let's extend the olive branch for us.
The olive branch extended
Unwraps vines from hands and feet
All released, broken cords amended
Branch of olives from hands so giving
May seem at once too kind
When crows grasp, a misgiving
To bring branch forward, hands will ache
With all-encompassing pain
Knowing the wounded soul at stake
Branch of steel breaks apart
Shackles that resent
Made of copper, resilient, hard
Release from bonds of steel, relief
No tears of wrathfulness
Shudders of grief
Pardon from the branch of olives
Unties the vines of hate that bind
Soothes the soul as a gift
Gift given so all may live.
About the Creator
Michelle Liew
Hi, i am an English Language teacher cum freelance writer with a taste for pets, prose and poetry. When I'm not writing my heart out, I'm playing with my three dogs, Zorra, Cloudy and Snowball.
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Very well written. Keep up the good work!
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Comments (7)
This is a really beautiful and thoughtful poem. Happy to subscribe to your work.
I will try to forgive others more easily.I need peace in my heart. Alotof emotions came .Good job Michelle (shanti).
Your poetic exploration of forgiveness is like a profound journey. As Maya Angelou wisely said, "Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself." Your words beautifully echo that idea. On a lighter note, extending that olive branch seems almost as challenging as convincing a cat to take swimming lessons – tricky but potentially life-changing!
"Gift given so all may live." Interesting line. Congrats on Top Story!
Well done! Keep pushing forward with your excellent work—congrats!
Nahhh, I'm too petty for this, so not gonna extend the olive branch. Not gonna accept if they extend to it either. They burned the bridge while I was still standing on it. So yeah. But please don't mistake me, I loved your poem. It was beautiful!
Forgiveness is hard. Good poem, Michelle.