Forgiven

Forgiven

Every breath destroys, every touch bruises, every thought contaminates.

I must breathe to live;

inhaling rich, sweet, air

breathing out only waste,

all I need drawn from the well

in selfish survival.

I must touch to love;

drawing in the close touch

of lower case worship,

a demand from delicate ego

for a kiss upon the bruises.  

I must think to survive;

stealing from restorative silences,

filling the quiet with intrusion

lest Your words impose

and my personality coalesces

with the random universe. 

Each breath and touch and thought

applies its wounding thrust

blow upon blow.

I breathe

a compulsion I cannot overcome,

to breathe is to live,

to live is to need forgiveness.

I touch

bruising and healing in unequal measure

touching – the function

of the give and take of forgiveness.

I think

and amid these careless thoughts

You wander; showing me

above my name written upon Your palm

the nail marks I write there daily.