Love and forgiveness are a pair,
more a part of each other than
separate contrasting states,
but the connectivity, the futility
of seeing them as contradictory,
the inherent yin and yang of the pair
enjoins our acknowledging he who is devoid
of the power to forgive
is devoid of the power to love.
It is a lesson we learn in inventorying
our resentments, our analyzing
our contribution, and eventually
our making amends for our part.
It is then we come to understand
there is some good in the worst of us
and some evil in the best of us.
And at that point the enmity we nursed for years
fades, yielding to the truth we no longer hate
and possibly a growing love for those
we once named as enemies.