Amends, Amen

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." ~ Maya Angelou 

I shamed you, scorned you, hurled barbed words
because I felt so scorned, so worthless, so wrong.
I meant no harm. How could I? I was thinking
only of myself. You weren't a worthy being,
just someone handy to share my miseries, imposed.

I've found a way to feel loved, worthy, all right.
It feels so good, so right. Too late to take away
the hurt I've done, I shower you with acceptance,
with encouragement, with kind words. I can't change
how you feel about me, just how I treat you. With love.