Forgiveness

Photo by Dawn Sanborn

"And Tamar lived...bitter and desolate." -- 2 Samuel 13:20


Forgiveness

Night and day candles burn...
halos of crescent moon and onyx sky

smoldering.

Rains streak her body
with ash; she paints
upon it,
with fingertips clenched
     ...or pried open....
dabbing its rancidness like perfume
to her temple, marking forever
cries...
that wash away nothing,
really.

A mirror, aged, casts back familiarity,
leaving me, in vain,
to adorn myself with soot
as Tamar herself once did.
I've...
no gown to shred,
   and yet,
thrown out...locks turning
loudly
in the hearts behind me.
Betrayed by those
claiming to be mine.
And names
   mean so little
...anymore.

A history of princesses
who lament innocently
with fiery tears, fallen cold.
Each waits,
violated, until -- unexpectedly -- a step is taken
in silence...toward the light.
An act perhaps
unable...
but willing,
to extinguish the hatred
within.

Michelle Fimon
© 2011