Although this poem was drafted in English, I like best how the Spanish version came out, así que antepuse la versión en español, followed by the English text et une version en français.

Before getting to the poem, a pause for a seemingly requisite bow (in these troubled times) to American politics and American history. This from a speech by President Franklin Roosevelt during his 1936 campaign for reelection:

In 1932 the issue was the restoration of American democracy; and the American people were in a mood to win. They did win. In 1936 the issue is the preservation of their victory. Again they are in a mood to win. Again they will win. . . . We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob. . . . I should like to have it said of my first Administration that in it the forces of selfishness and of lust for power met their match. I should like to have it said of my second Administration that in it these forces met their master.

Un poema lleno de perdón

Él no era una persona que perdonara

pero podía perdonarla

Pero ella no quería ser perdonada

tampoco creía que necesitara perdón

O no mucho – el perdón era para los pocos

verdaderamente imperdonables

Su perdón la ofendía

y él – ¿querría ser perdonado?

Sí, quería.

English

A poem full of forgiveness

He was not a forgiving person

But he could forgive her

But she did not want to be forgiven

She did not think she needed forgiving

Or not much – forgiveness was for the few

Truly unforgivable

His forgiveness offended her

And as for him – did he want to be forgiven?

Yes, he did.

Français

Un poème plein de pardon

Il n’était pas du genre à pardonner

Mais il pouvait lui pardonner

Mais elle ne voulait pas être pardonnée

Elle ne pensait pas non plus avoir besoin d’être pardonnée

Ou pas beaucoup – le pardon était réservé aux quelques personnes

Vraiment impardonnables

Son pardon l’a offensée

Et lui – voulait-il être pardonné ?

Oui.

— Poem(s) and photograph by William Eaton.

Check out Eaton’s 2024 collection of poetry and prose: 4 billion eggs.