When trauma lays a soul bare in its broken body,
is it wrong to contemplate, consider the pain maker’s pain,
to imagine they may have been or are a victim of violence.
Is it possible this current cruelty echoes inner torment suffered years
before the recent victim was born, is this terrible, pain-filled, attack,
a reverberation of trauma festering within the offender?
How can we be sure if a victim of violence,
even with tremendous resolve,
ever truly heals from damage done to them in the past,
or does fear lie in wait somehow roused without warning,
to unleash dormant rage to claim still another victim?
And can a victim in their anguish or transgressor in disgrace
ever trust enough so their hearts can heal?
May we offer compassion without restraint to all who suffer,
let us open our hearts,
break the chains of judgement and know. . .
Love begets Love.
~ PE Kaplan
