For This Very Reason

Sins are more diverse than harm,
But harm’s the only true sin.

Like all of its shadow shelves,
The lovely invented sins

Of people seeking control
Over human behavior,

Harm is unavoidable,
But because it’s the real sin,

It’s also the only one
Truly unforgivable,

Ever truly forgiven.
Every other sin’s a game,

A mere morality play,
Only a likeness in masks.

The refusal to forgive
Such sin is also a mask,

And mercy’s another mask.
You can’t stop playing with these.

Masks ourselves, we won’t ask you.
But harm remains the true sin.

Only the harmed can forgive,
Only harm be forgiven.

Heaven send that those you’ve harmed
Still live to give forgiveness.