The Weight of Judgment

: My heart hangs heavy in my chest As I face their eyes of discontent For errors made in younger days When wisdom had not made its way Though years have passed since those dark times And I've worked hard to make amends Their gazes still hold doubt and pain As if no progress has been gained I know I caused hurt, broke their trust With foolish deeds and wanderlust But I hoped with time and change shown Their faith in me could be regrown It pains me so to see the cost Of reckless choices made and lost I'd give all I have to erase The past's shadow on each face But judgment casts a weighty net On soul and spirit, cold and wet Though I've shed old skin, transformed within The past, to them, is not yet dim With patience, love, and gentle care Perhaps one day that weight I'll bear No more, those shadows and dark clouds Of disapproving eyes and doubts I'll show them all the person I've become No longer haunted by what I've done And judgement will release its grip As forgiveness lets their love resurface For now I'll bear this test of time Make amends for each past crime And hope someday they'll clearly see The change that's happened deep in meJudgment