Revenge Is Often Taken in the Mind

A poem for Rosh Hashanah about the need for forgive others if one is to ask for forgiveness for oneself:

Revenge is often taken in the mind.
Open wounds untreated tend to bleed.
Some who else would be both good and kind
Hate others in the thought, if not the deed.
Have mercy, then, upon yourself, and clear
Away the anger twisting you inside,
Sanctifying for the coming year
Heart and spirit, cleansed of pain and pride.
As you ask forgiveness, so forgive,
Nor need you lose your honor with your fury.
All find their just reward in how they live,
Held to account by a less partial jury.

© by Nicholas Gordon

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Audio and Video Music: Forever Yours. By Wayne Jones. Music free to use at YouTube.

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