Poetry Well Received

THE ANGELUS TRUMPET

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Poetry Well Received

by Matt Hughes 

Dateline: Somewhere in the hills of Ohio, Sept. 17, 2017, 18:21:35

Last month, the AngelUS Trumpet announced the results of its 2017 Poetry Contest. Peter Heide, who had submitted all entries we received, was therefore the winning poet. His major opus, The Three-Hour Cruise, received many kind responses. We are therefore printing another of his poems with a Biblical theme.

How Many Times Must We Forgive?

by Peter Heide

How many times must we forgive?

Is seven quite enough?

Because this healing work you give

Is frankly getting tough.

It would be so much easier

To humble and to shame

The thoughtless acts of foe and dear,

To point out fault and blame.

In fact, if they but knew their wrong,

I’m sure they would repent.

So, should we not begin the song

Of victim and lament

That catalogs our trials long

That they might know judgment?

How many times must we forgive,

Seventy and seven?

Because, with you, we want to live,

And pass straight into heav’n.

If we could know the number clear,

We’d count and know delight

To tally sins of others near,

To help them see the light.

For if they only knew the pain

They cause when they offend,

We’re sure they’d want to cease, refrain.

Behaviors they’d amend,

And then with mercy we might deign

To claim them as our friend.

If we forgive more than that, say

Seventy times seven?

Can we save ourselves, maybe pay

Our way into heaven?

We cry out loud that life’s not fair

With our own populace,

And justify our lack of care

Of those who aren’t like us.

For, if they only understood

Our piety and ways,

They’d want to know how to be good

By counting other’s strays

And telling others what they should

Be doing to obey.

How many times must you forgive?

You think there is a sum

Beyond which mercy cannot live,

And absolution’s mum?

When pointing fingers mock and shame,

Blaming one another,

There is one who bears the name

God saves, our Lord and savior.

For with us in the midst of life,

When all is counted loss,

When sin and doubt and psychic strife

And situations toss

Us into waves of chaos rife,

We then behold your cross.