Certitude of the Tested Proclaimed

forgiveness is the most powerful survival tool we have. Scars indicate healing.

I observed

the Enlightened Ones garbed in flawless white linen robes 

serenely secure within their candlelit mountaintop temples

proclaim with the Certitude of the Untested

“If you would but seek freedom, you must first forgive”

 

I suspected

the Enlightened Ones left a few things unsaid

about the price of Forgiveness and the ultimate cost of Vengeance

perhaps they didn't know, or forgot, perhaps they simply chose not to say

 

I sought

the freedom proclaimed by the Enlightened Ones

for Vengeance had me at Death's door

I saw no way out

 

I affirm

with the Certitude of the Tested 

from my third floor electric lit apartment in the city

unceremoniously garbed in my comfy blue plaid flannel robe

“If you would but seek freedom, you must first forgive”

 

I proclaim

with the Certitude of the Tested 

from my third floor electric lit apartment in the city

unceremoniously garbed in my comfy blue plaid flannel robe

“The price of forgiveness is a bargain indeed-

because spiritual scar tissue is strong enough

and heavy hearts can still keep beating

and crawling is but walking on all fours

because the alternative is Death

Author's Note

I would love to hear your response to this poem. Constructive critiques are very much appreciated (clarity, punctuation, etc)

Reviews

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

Wow...I see where you went with this from the other poem. Well done and clarified so well. Yes, big difference in the untested and the tested. I love the comparison of the cloistered temples far above it all to you in the city in your flannel robe! A lot of wisdom here.

[steppenwolf]

Mary: first of all I think this poem is successful because you used a form within which to experiment. It shows guts to do it your own way! Reminds me of Robert Frost, a little, because his poems sounded as if somebody was talking and this one does too. So within the structure you created yourself you allowed yourself to be passionate. This poem is about serious subjects, no question. You have a lot of rage and pain but out of it comes "certitude." When I think about our world and our country--after I read the poem for the first time--I realized that there's little "certitude" anywhere. That's why poets must write poetry. I like very much the continuing contrast between your comfortable robe and the subjects you are meditating on. Don't forget that in every painting, Mary wears a blue robe.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Yes! I'm with you Mary on the "Certitude of the Tested" line! This is so powerful and beautifully written. It should be on an Illuminated Manuscript or Dead Sea Scroll! "The price of forgiveness is a bargain indeed."-we do what we have to do to seal the deal, to live,no matter the personal cost... Brava! Master-Class writing!

[Earl Schumacker]

Hi Mary, Well structured and delivered poem. Very deep. I'm not sure if this is the location to get back to you regarding your comments on my Fear of Numbers poem. I want to thank you so much for your kind response. I appreciate and value your observations. Have a great day. Earl

[alanwgraham]

You have a very imaginative and original mind! This is very good and i not entirely sure what it means but I'm not good at reading between the lines. It's quite profound! The repitition works really well and gives it a liturgical feel.
Well done Mary.
Alan

[Mary]

thanks for the review. It's kind of a personal reflection that essentially says that damn! the mystics are right, forgiveness is the only way (at least for me) to have any peace in my heart. But how did they know this? Is it the yoga? the fasting? Must one be a vegan to be enlightened? They seem to wander around the place in lily white robes, all smiley smiley, with their enlightened brothers and sisters, spewing affirmation after affirmation, and damn if they aren't on the money!? How'd that happen? As for myself, I had to have much of what I loved ripped from me; had to endure the heartache before I found release. I guess this poem reflects a bit of envy on my part, hehe.

[Levi Levin]

The them is very true in this. We are sometimes taken captive an enslaved by our own bitterness and by the grudges we hold. We should lay aside every weight and the sins that do beset us. Great message!

[Mary]

Thank you Levi for your kind review. I've come to learn the hard way that forgiveness allows spiritual scars to form to stop the bleeding caused by guilt and resentment.

[Valentine]

Forgive....or ask that you yourself are forgiven? Your word usage is fine, I would expect we all have our own idea of how we get to Him. Valentine

[Mary]

Thank you, Valentine. Your comments are really helpful. I have found that forgiveness is the only way to a life of peace and joy and thus, freedom. As Jesus said, "Father forgive them," not most of them. But past hurts (I speak for myself) sometimes do leave spiritual scars and hearts that are heavy, and some days the best I can do is crawl, but all of that is ok, and I now know it. Forgiveness doesn't cause scars, it just allows them to grow over the wound. Again, thanks so much