Forgiveness kicks us out of hell
Where we prefer to stay.
It’s warmer where the devils dwell,
But we are on our way.
Where shall we go?
We do not know.
We are, right now, and anyhow,
Kicked out to breathe a brighter day.
Text: Linked to dVerse Quadrille where De Jackson (aka WhimsyGizmo) is hosting and to Debbie Roth’s Forgiveness Fridays. I am practicing odes, poems of praise, because his Thursday I will be featuring odes on dVerse Meeting the Bar.
Photos: “And Then There Was a Rainbow” by the author.
“breathe a brighter day” — MAN, do I love that. Yes, please.
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Thank you, De! Thanks for hosting today at dVerse.
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Ha. We do tend to like it in hell.
Forgiveness is quite humbling. Asking for it, and giving it.
It really is a gift we give ourselves so that we can get to that
fresher air.
Odes. I will have to start brushing up.
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Odes seem to be all over the place. All one has to do is start praising and affirming all that is about us. I am glad you liked this!
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I love this – forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves. I’m with that … great comment. Debbie
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Thank you, Debbie! And thank you for providing a site on forgiveness that gives me motivation to write something about it.
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Ha.. love the hint towards Thursday… there has to be a reward for reading carefully… actually up north hell was more a cold place, actually barely freezing so you where condemned forever to have wet feet…. please scorch me with some brimstone.
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I suppose in some places hell may be icy or just annoying enough like an itch one cannot scratch. Thank you, Bjorn!
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Great poem. We do seem to love the warmth of hell. Although, I have read several books about hell being cold.
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It may be cold. Frost in “Fire and Ice” may have got it right. Thank you, Toni!
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Love the first two lines, which emphasize just how absurd it is to hold grudges. Nice poem!
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It is absurd to hold grudges but emotionally I can see how that happens. It is not always easy letting go of them. I’m hoping something will kick me out if I every get comfortable. Thank you!
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We humans do many things that don’t make sense, as we’re not wholly rational creatures.
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Your first quatrain reminds me of that Mark Twain quote, “Go to heaven for the climate but hell for the company” 🙂
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I remember that Twain quote. Perhaps there’s more truth to it than I realize. Thank you!
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I am so glad you were ‘Kicked out to breathe a brighter day’ Frank! ;o)
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Me, too! Sometimes one has to be kicked outside to see its beauty. Thank you, Xenia!
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You have such a generous vision of life, Frank 🙂
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Thank you, Jane! I think you do as well.
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I think my generosity is selective—yours is more inclusive 🙂
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Oh I love this! Not sure we prefer the company of devils though – too tormenting
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Sometimes we get used to the torments. The most tormenting torments are those not bad enough to make us want to leave. Thank you, Laura!
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Brilliant! Sorry to have missed this prompt. Church yesterday was on forgiveness and yes, it is like breathing. 🙂
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I think Debbie’s forgiveness prompt goes on all week. It is like breathing. Thank you, Elizabeth!
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Oh Frank, I think I heard a challenge 😉 Thanks.
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Yep, Frank and Elizabeth, that’s right – you can post about forgiveness any day during the week. I share everyone’s post each Friday. 🙂 Blessings, sounds like it was a great church service. Debbie
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I love the message woven into your words. Great take on the prompt!
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Thank you, Vivian! I hope someone kicks me out of hell should I ever get used to it.
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Me too!
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A wise message clothed in perfect rhyme and meter. Nicely done, as always, Frank.
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Thank you, Victoria! I’m glad you liked it!
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I love the last line and read Frank ~ You painted forgiveness with a light touch, although this topic is quite heavy. Thank you.
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It is not easy to forgive. If it is, we have already forgiven and are outside enjoying the brightness of reality. Thank you, Grace!
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Deliverance in two stanzas! Nice!
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May it be easy for all of us. Thank you, Frank!
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My pleasure, Frank!
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Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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Thank you!
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After living in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and way Upstate New York, I can confirm that hell is cold and snowy and, yes, there is eternal fire… but it doesn’t warm, or dry the soaking wool socks. Love the poem, Frank!
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I hope hell is hot enough or cold enough I’ll want to leave before I get kicked out. I’m glad you liked it, Charley!
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I’m sure either way it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
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Great poem! It is hard to forgive. But harder on ourselves to hold the grudge. Because then we are negative and miserable. That person wins twice if we let that happen.
I had a shirt in my teens that said: Heaven doesn’t want me and hell is afraid I’ll take over. 🙂
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That’s a good quote for a shirt! It is hard to forgive. Thank you!
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You did a great post on forgiveness a few weeks back! Thank you again Rebel Girl. It was beautiful and shining light. ~Debbie
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Thanks, Debbie!
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Very insightful.
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Thank you!
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LoL! I had to laugh about this unceremonius treatment of hell. But it is true: we often prefer to suffer out of laziness or habit.
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I was wondering today which hell is worse, one you want to get out of or one you don’t–assuming there is a way out and the outside is way better than hell itself. Thank you, Danik!
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It is warmer where the devils dwell — so true!
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Thank you, Reena!
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I dislike coming in late, but so it goes–life intervenes, as do health issues. Your message is part humor, part right on; always a good way to get the bitter pill to do down.
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Humor may be the best pill there is. Best wishes, Glenn!
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This is a lovely poem, Frank. I really enjoyed it.
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Thank you, Robbie!
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Frank, this is a fantastic ode to forgiveness. Isn’t it so true – we can get so comfortable in the familiar, I think a part of it (for me) is control, like I’m trying to control myself or the situation with judgment.
Anyway, forgiveness is certainly a way to help us breathe the fresh air. I love what you wrote in one of your comments, how it can help us be in the brightness of reality. And the photo you included is gorgeous – it really matches the depth and freedom of forgiveness for me.
Thanks for this awesome contribution for Forgiving Fridays! I’m happy to share it this week. 🙂 Have a great evening, Frank. Debbie
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I am glad you liked this, Debbie! Thinking about forgiveness is like focusing on affirmations rather than negations. I am glad you have given us a reminder to be aware of it.
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Amazing! “Forgiveness kicks us out of hell”….actually so true. I never thought about it. Wonderful selection of words.
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I am glad you liked this. I didn’t realize it either until I saw the words appear. Thank you!
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It’s warmer where the devils dwell,
But we are on our way.
love these lines a lot! love the rhyme and the rhythm and the entirety of this quadrille. 🙂
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Thank you! I’m glad you liked the rhyme, rhythm and content.
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You’re welcome!
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It is an epiphany when we do realise that our hate is doing us more harm than good and forgiveness will set us free.
Odes! Have to start figuring them out
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An ode would be any poem of praise in any form or free verse although there are some special forms people have associated with odes in the past. Forgiveness sets us free. Thank you, Namratha!
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Nice rhyme: “hell” “dwell”
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It is monosyllabic perhaps more the way people actually speak although they don’t use rhymes generally. Thanks, Sabio!
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Ah that we all experience the grace of forgivenss when we need it most. Wonderful thoughts here, Frank.
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Forgiveness is a grace. I think it takes more than our individual efforts to reach that state wherever that extra help comes from. Thanks, Lillian!
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I stepped out my back door, the sky pure gold, it was a breath of a brighter day. I begin this day with great expectations. Thanks Frank.
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That is a very nice way to begin the day. Thank you, Annell!
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Oh, for the sake of brighter days, dear sir, preach on!
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Thank you, Colin! I like the idea of being dragged out of hell kicking and screaming and then realizing it’s not so bad outside.
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That’d be a jolly theatrical scene. I like that.
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Wise words, Frank! Well put!
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Thank you!
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It resonated. Well written sentiments.
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Thank you, Irene!
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I’m not a religious person, but this had a prayer-like feel to it. Beautiful thoughts.
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I see forgiveness as a human topic. Different religions may add some value, but ultimately we have to deal with it as human beings. Thank you, Merril!
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I love the subject of this poem.
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Thank you, Sara!
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SMiLes Nature aLWayS ForgETs
only we reFuse to ReMember..:)
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Nature is smarter than we are. Thanks, Fred!
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SMiLes
mY FriEnd
Best
Odes
Continue to
Practice
A Prayer oF Real..:)
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I love the first stanza. Not sure about the last line, but it does fit the theme. I was thinking of Fudo, Buddhist God of Hell, with his lasso to pull you out of Hell, and his whip to keep you from returning. LOL! In any way, a very intriguing poem, Frank.
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Fudo is a interesting God with a seemingly bipolar attitude toward those in hell. I will have to read more about him. Thanks, Jane!
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Oh! Fudo. My favorite Buddhist! LOL! Didn’t think of him as bipolar, but now that you mention it….I think many Japanese Gods/Goddesses are such. LOL!
Fudo is endlessly fascinating. I have written him in “Kimono” at the back of a parade of yamabushi. LOL! With his lasso and whip.
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Having some seemingly contradictory tendencies can make a God interesting. Thanks, Jane!
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Missed this, the first time round. It’s great! I love the idea that it can be comfortable to hold onto guilt. I think you’re right. It makes us feel that we are doing something when of course we are not.
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Good point about guilt being comfortable to hold onto. Thanks, Sarah!
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