Forgive or Forget?

Long ago in the land of youth

Once was I called both crass and uncouth

Yet throughout my six plus decades of life

Ever have I tried to find peace and settle strife

Many a shirt have I given from my back

Regardless of what I myself may lack

If I had food and others had none

I’d lay a blanket out and we’d picnic in the sun

When friend or family had no place to go

I’d welcome them in, charity to bestow

Yet ever and again I find people ungrateful

It makes me sad to see them so hateful

My own wife’s brother has lived with us time and again

Yet his self-centered hatefulness fills me with chagrin

My oldest friend for whom I have given up much

Just expects more and forgets life works in Dutch

Now just once I dared to say I’m currently unable

To give what you ask as as I’m currently unstable

This man I’ve known for forty plus years

Ranted and raved and left me in tears

Forgetting the money, time, help, and love…

My being there constantly when push came to shove

Now I find myself at odds with me

Wanting to forgive, yet insisting he see

So here I sit, alone outside of family

But is it truly such an almighty calamity?

Should I beg forgiveness despite doing no wrong?

Or slam my heart to his woeful song?

I’ll argue with myself as I wait to see

What responses I get from all of thee