2009 Poem ‘The Crime’ by Walter Lerchner, U.S.A. from the Book ‘Society Enlightened’ Pages 21 to 24

How can we forgive a crime
so heinous that it might affect
our lives for generations?
So atrocious that it might never
leave our minds at peace?

Maybe if we realize that the purpose of it was
that it should haunt us

Maybe if we realize that the evil that caused it
is working now through us
The same way it worked through the ones
who have committed it

The evil is not interested in a person or a crime

It is just interested in the effect it has
It only wants to destroy, to disrupt,
and to maximize the length of suffering

By forgiving we destroy the evil
By healing we overcome the suffering

By slowly opening our heart for new experiences

We are creating new memories
that override the past
New emotions are finding ways
to fill the void

Love creates a creek,
then a river, and then a stream
Washing away the pain
and filling an ocean of compassion

We are strong beyond measure
when we defeat the evil
by forgiving the ones who committed it

And by forgiving ourselves