Forgiveness...

Why is it so hard to forgive?

Lately that question has came to mind as I've thought of the kind of people you stumble across..
the bitter, begrudging ones. The ones that never have anything good to say, and are always tearing someone down. Finally, the root of this bitterness and spite emerges.
"if they had have only listened to ME when I tried telling them..."
"they didn't want MY help/advice..."
"they didn't help ME when I needed help..."
The root to most unforgiving attitudes, to bitterness and hatred, I think, is pride.
Your pride was wounded somehow or another and you hold too tightly to it to allow forgiveness.
Instead you nurse your wounded pride which turns into a full-fledged grudge.

I wrote a poem to that extent, sometime ago.
Here goes.

"All in angry voices
tearing feelings to the ground
apparently there is not enough
forgiveness to go around.
All in the race to defend
and never overlook
Everyone becomes their own
murderer and crook.

Save yourselves
Before it is too late
Surely there is time
to get away - escape
Break away
Before it is too late
Drop the chains
One grudge is all it takes--
to destroy.

Dont let this fire
consume our souls and minds
surely there is something
that can heal the blind
and cease the spirit
that causes us to kill
another reputation -
a fellow human's will.

Get away
Before it is too late
Break the binding
Make a step away
Throw away the chains
before it is too late
Don't fight so hard for fame
Or by your own fate
you destroy.

A losing battle
To preserve a name you never earned
caring little how many
others might get burned
Fighting harder
each time you fail again
heart getting harder
Can you not see your sin?

Move on
Before it's too late
While you have a chance
Change your path
Stop this war dance
Turn around
Before it's too late
Your heart put in the ground --
Destroyed"