when I’m alone and with my thoughts
I think of one mistake I ought
to not have made but yet I made
that puts the rest into the shade
I nearly left some others maimed
I cannot say I’m too ashamed
no doubt about it this fraught mind
is sentence of reaction kind
I beg that one day it will pass
forgiveness sometimes seems in grasp
but did the writer not once say
today is built on yesterday?
I had a dream when I was young
the dream’s now true but still I’m hung
on crimes that seem to follow me
is that what’s meant by destiny?
are we most shaped by shame and guilt
or is it me that cannot tilt
attention to the present task
because the charges are en masse?
when I’m alone and with my thoughts
I still believe that though I’m caught
the gift of grace can break this bind
encounters of the quiet mind