Guilt Is a Character Defect

God, I think I’m entirely ready
to be rid of my character defects —
but Sarah says Mary says GUILT
is one. How can that be?
And if it’s true, what would life
be like without guilt?

The could-have, would-have, should-haves
my mother taught me, aren’t they basic?
Can you live life without them?
What would happen to society
if we skip the remorse, the recriminations?

Forgiving others seems hard, going in,
but really it’s not. After all,
they’re sick, too, and meant well —
well, most of the times. But guilt?
That means forgiving me, doesn’t it?
How can I do that? How can I let go
of guilt?