Forgiveness Poem-Letting Go to Take Back Your Life
- Deborah Ann Martin
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Choosing Peace Over Holding On to Pain
Forgiveness was not something that came easy to me. There were times in my life where I held onto hurt longer than I should have. I replayed situations in my mind, thinking about what was said, what was done, and how it affected me. This forgiveness poem comes from a place where I realized that holding onto that pain was not hurting them, it was hurting me.
When someone does you wrong, it is natural to feel anger, sadness, and even a need for justice. Those feelings are real. But what I learned over time is that staying in that place keeps you stuck. It keeps you tied to the situation and to the person who caused the hurt.
Forgiveness does not mean what they did was okay. It does not mean you forget what happened. It means you are choosing to let go of the control that situation has over your life. It means you are choosing peace for yourself.
That was a hard lesson, but it changed everything.
Forgiveness Poem
Forgiveness
Bitterness and strife
Make for a horrible life
Vengeance is just a ploy
Because in its wake, my life will be destroyed
No more, “they caused undue strife.”
“They destroyed my life.”
“Why should I forgive them when they did me wrong?”
“To them is where the fault belongs.”
Reliving their wrongs is a choice to wallow in strife
I am willingly giving them the power over your life
Some people bring hurt, despair, turmoil, all to devour
Living in mental peace and joy gives me the best revenge and power
Life itself has its own kind of strife.
Eliminating negative emotions is better for my life.
I can concentrate on other important issues
Instead of feeling ugly emotions that cause tissues.
If I avoid the thing the person does that causes strife,
Staying out of their life allows me to enjoy my life.
Forgiving the things they do that I cannot control,
Gives me a new, better, and freeing role.
Forgiving and removing them from thoughts take away my strife
Freeing me to have mental peace and enjoy life.
When I forgive and continually forgive, I just feel light.
There’s a peace inside that just feels right.
Forgiveness is how to deal with mental strife.
I’m not weak, just taking back my life.
It takes strength and courage to forgive.
Then I gain back control; setting appropriate boundaries and distancing is the way to live.
No longer in a prison of anger, depression, blame, and strife.
I’m not going to be a victim for the rest of my life.
I’m a strong person to face pain head-on, releasing it.
To forgive, have peace, and enjoy my life… to this, I will commit.
From Love and Heartache Moments: Healing Poems After Divorce and Breakups
Part of the Life Moments Series
© 2025 Deborah Ann Martin. All rights reserved.
Reflection on My Forgiveness Poem
This poem came from a place of growth and hard truth. There were times when I felt justified in holding onto anger. I believed that because someone hurt me, they deserved to carry the blame, and I deserved to hold onto that pain.
But what I did not realize at the time was that I was the one carrying the weight.
Every time I replayed what happened, every time I held onto the anger, I was giving that person more control over my life. They were no longer in the situation, but I was still living in it. That is when I started to see that forgiveness was not about them.
It was about me.
As I continued to grow, I realized something even deeper. Forgiveness is not just about letting go once. It is something you may have to do over and over again. Thoughts come back. Feelings resurface. And each time, you make the choice again to release it.
That is where the real strength comes in.
This poem shows that shift. It moves from blame and frustration to understanding, and then to empowerment. I am not weak for forgiving. I am strong because I am choosing peace over pain. I am choosing to take back control of my life.
Another important part of this journey was learning that forgiveness does not mean allowing someone to stay in your life. I can forgive and still create distance. I can let go of anger while still protecting my peace.
That is where boundaries come in.
Forgiveness gave me clarity. It helped me see that I do not have to live in anger, depression, or blame. I do not have to stay stuck in what someone else did to me. I can move forward, feel lighter, and enjoy my life again.
If you are holding onto something right now, I understand how hard it is to let it go. But forgiveness is not giving something to them. It is giving something back to yourself.
The Style Behind the Words
Poetry Style Name: Reflective Narrative Poetry with elements of Confessional and Didactic Poetry
Structure and Form: Multi-stanza free verse poem with quatrain-like groupings that follows a clear emotional progression from bitterness and blame to self-awareness, acceptance, and personal growth. The poem incorporates moments of internal dialogue through quoted lines and uses repetition and loose rhyme to unify the evolving message.
Tone: Honest, reflective, and empowering
Poetic Devices:
Meter: Short to medium lines with a steady, conversational flow
Rhyme and Rhyme Scheme: Rhyming couplets and end rhyme used throughout. Consistent repetition of simple rhymes creates cohesion and reinforces key ideas (example: life / strife, ploy / destroyed, control / role)
Sound and Rhythm: Smooth and steady, supporting the reflective and meditative nature of the poem
Imagery: Emotional imagery of inner turmoil, pain, and eventual release (e.g., “hurt, despair, turmoil”)
Storytelling: Clear narrative progression from holding onto pain and blame to choosing forgiveness and reclaiming personal peace
Repetition: Frequent repetition of “strife” ,“life” and "forgiveness" emphasizes the emotional cycle and central conflict
Internal Monologue: Use of quoted phrases reveals past thought patterns and highlights a shift in mindset
Contrast: Bitterness, blame, and vengeance versus peace, forgiveness, strength and emotional freedom
Metaphor: “Vengeance is just a ploy” suggests that revenge is deceptive and harmful, and the words “Giving them the power” symbolize surrendering emotional control
Alliteration: Subtle use, such as “hurt, despair”, “mental peace”, and “pain…prison”
Tone Shift: Moves from resentment and pain to clarity, empowerment, and resolution
Symbolism: “Strife” represents internal conflict and emotional suffering, and the word “Life” represents personal well-being and growth
Theme: Forgiveness, emotional freedom, self-awareness, personal strength and reclaiming personal power and boundaries
Reading Level: 6th grade and up, accessible yet deeply layered
Explore More Love and Heartache Moments
If this poem speaks to you, there are many more like it in Love and Heartache Moments. This book walks through pain, healing, forgiveness, and learning how to move forward.
About the Life Moments Series
This poem is part of my Life Moments Series, which explores the beauty, heartbreak, and growth we experience in everyday life.
Each book in the series captures different themes, love, heartbreak, parenting, joy, childhood, and more.
You can read more poetry or explore all of my books
References
Love and Heartache Moments: Healing Poems After Divorce and Breakups, Deborah Ann Martin, 2025.
Deborah Ann Martin Amazon Author Central Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/deborahamartin
About the Author:
Deborah Ann Martin is the founder of Surviving Life Lessons, a published author, poet, speaker, and trainer with over 20 years of management experience across multiple industries. An MBA graduate, U.S. veteran, single mother, and rare cancer survivor, Deborah brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her writing on resilience, leadership, personal growth, and overcoming adversity. Her mission is to empower others with practical wisdom and real-life insight to navigate life’s challenges with strength and purpose.
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