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How we do hurt...do tarnish,
Relationships once dear;
Words spoken...soon forgotten,
Still, the scars we bear.

Why do we not think far ahead,
The grief and hurt we cause;
So swift to speak...we often are,
To point out other's flaws.

If we could only understand,
The power in our tongue;
I'm sure that we'd be slow to speak,
Words carefully chosen...not just flung.

Be quick to hear and slow to speak,
A rule-of-thumb should be;
For what we sow, in time we'll reap,
What comes out...all shall see.

Forgiveness is the answer,
Nothing else will do;
To overlook is not enough,
Forgiveness...all things fresh…anew.

And, so I ask this question,
"Would you forgive me, please?"
My wrong, I freely admit,
"Would you forgive me, please?"

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Aug. 1, 2000

Aimee Love
(LHG)