Let It Go – Published in Flora Fiction Review Freedom Anthology – September 7, 2021
(Inspired by Rabbi Maltzman’s Yom Kippur Sermon 2021 at Kol Shalom Synagogue, Rockville, MD)
The Rabbi Spoke
on Yom Kippur of
the importance of
Forgiveness.
He acknowledged the
pain of rejection, of
insult,
rebuke,
abuse,
and the daily burden of
carrying unwanted memories.
Let them go
he implored us,
Let them go and be
Free
of the
spirits
occupying too much space in
your mind,
leaving little room for the
Peace,
Love and
Joy
that surrounds us.
Letting go does not require
Forgiveness,
He said
Letting go offers us
Freedom.
The Rabbi spoke,
And I listened.
Let it go,
I told myself.
Let go of the
anger, the
frustration, the
hatred
brought on by
him, by her, by all of them,
all the unwanted residents
occupying valuable memory space.
Let go of the
Guilt
You carry each day
for your own
Misgivings,
Regrets,
Actions and
Inactions.
You need not offer false
Forgiveness.
You just need to
Let it go.
Let it go.
Let it all go, and be
Free.