Lament of the Guilty Party

Guilt is a prison, A prison I will continue to build for myself As long as I live. I have given up so many Precious opportunities to work, Painstakingly, on this hated creation. Every mistake yields a brick, Every crime a chain link. And once again, I have locked Myself inside, Locked the door and thrown away the keys Of caution and reason. They are far out of reach now. And at this moment, I long for Them to be in my hand again, Shining with the eternal hope That freedom brings to the heart. Fear wraps around me, Like a shackle of stone, Weighing me down and chilling my soul. Dark, icy shame closes in, stifling any attempt I might make to cry out. I think back to other times I have spent, languishing In dark and despairing guilt, Times too often and numerous to count. Then, as now, I realize, I cannot escape alone. I pray, “Dear Father, forgive me; Release me from this bondage of guilt.” And like light trapped momentarily Within a glass prism, I emerge in glorious beauty. But the memories of guilt, though lifted, Follow like a haunting shadow, Or faint smudges on a clean page That can never be completely erased But should be learned from.