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Like undeveloped water
by Shirin Swift
to begin with
forgiveness dreamt of being held like a beloved baby
or a sardine
being laid gently on a piece of warm wholewheat toast
by someone too starved to be so gentle with their only food for the day
forgiveness dreamt of being enjoyed
like a fine glass of fiery Cointreau
or the weight of a big dog's snout
forgiveness dreamt that her dreams
were the pages of The Neverending Story
or the seeds that rattled in bird's eye chili pods
one darkless night, forgiveness was forgiven
cleansed of all desire
but the water was undeveloped
for a while forgiveness dreamt that she'd dreamt
and one darkless night, the devil forgave forgiveness
for giving up her desires
it's not like you to forget me, she said with great relief,
like you i have a love of fighting with my foes.
12/13/2006 Author's Note:
[the things that do not make sense can make the most love]
Posted on 12/13/2006
Copyright © 2024 Shirin Swift
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Kathleen Wilson on 12/14/06 at 03:36 AM Fascinating in its unusual imagery and the moralistic tale aspect of it-- forgiveness as a character, and I would never have predicted sardines. You are amazing! |
| Posted by Mo Couts on 07/18/11 at 06:08 AM Your author's note was my favorite part of the poem and I felt it was just as much a part of it as the other words. So nicely written and wonderfully put together. |
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