The Rest of the Prayer...

Forgive Us Our Debts
by

Neil Douglas-Klotz

"Loose the cords of mistakes binding us,

As we release the strands we hold

Of others' guilt.

Forgive our hidden past, the secret shames

As we consistently forgive

What others hide.

Lighten our load of secret debts as

We relieve others of their

Need to repay.

Erase the inner marks our failures make,

Just as we scrub our hearts

Of others' faults.

Absorb our frustrated hopes and dreams,

As we embrace those of others

With emptiness.

Untangle the knots within

So that we can mend our hearts'

Simple ties to others.

Compost our inner, stolen fruit

As we forgive others the spoils of

Their trespassing.

Loose the cords of mistakes binding us,

As we release the strands we hold

Of others' guilt."

photo from here