Popular Poem Categories:
Occasion & Holiday Poems:
Forgive Me Poems
Two simple words, "forgive me," can make a difference in our relationships with others. Yet those words are sometimes difficult to say. In the first poem, Strickland Gillilan reflects on how much better life could be if we were more willing to admit when we are wrong and ask for forgiveness.
The poems that follow also remind us that forgiveness goes hand in hand with love, patience, and understanding. We all make mistakes and have faults of our own. May these verses encourage us to be more willing to forgive others and to ask for forgiveness when we need it. You may also find encouragement in our collection of Forgiveness Poems.
Updated October 3, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.
Forgive Me
Poet: Strickland Gillilan
Wouldn't it be good, my brother,
If the sun could always shine?
If we lived for one another,
Wouldn't every day be fine?
Life were sweeter still, believe me,
Freer far from wails of woe
If those simple words "Forgive me"
Didn't choke a fellow so.
Were our lips not schooled to smother
All that's finest in the heart,
Wouldn't it be easy, brother,
Aye to choose the better part?
Oh, this world were sweet, believe me,
Free from bitterness and woe
If those blessed words "Forgive me"
Didn't choke a fellow so.
Folks Need A Lot Of Loving
Poet: Strickland Gillilan
Forgiveness often begins with love and understanding. Gillilan reminds us that people need love throughout the day, especially when life is filled with worries and struggles. When we offer love freely, it can become easier to offer patience and forgiveness too.
Folks need a lot of loving in the morning;
The day is all before, with cares beset
The cares we know, and those that give no warning;
For love is God's own antidote for fret.
Folks need a heap of loving at the noontime -
The battle lull, the moment snatched from strife
Halfway between the waking and the croontime,
While bickering and worriment are rife.
Folks hunger so for loving at the nighttime,
When wearily they take them home to rest
At slumber-song and turning-out-the-light time
Of all the times for loving, that's the best!
Folks want a lot of loving every minute
The sympathy of others and their smile!
Till life's end, from the moment they begin it,
Folks need a lot of loving all the while.
You And Me Both
Poet: Strickland Gillilan
It can be easy to notice the faults of others while being much more patient with our own. This poem uses humor to remind us that we all have shortcomings. Remembering our own faults can help us become more understanding, patient, and forgiving toward others.
I have a lot of grievous faults.
My pilgrim way is filled with halts
And limps and stoppings by the road.
When discipline applies her goad
I wince. I often note (with grief
That holds no prospect of relief
Through future mornings, nights and noons)
That every one is full of prunes,
Including me. But I cheer up
And feel joy brimming in my cup
When I look closer still and see
How patient I have been with me!
I know of none from whom I would
So much of foolishness have stood,
As I have daily borne when I
Was the offender. Should I try,
I could not take from others what
I've stood from me, without a swat
On the offender's eye or nose.
You'd find it hard to presuppose
How many things I can excuse
Whene'er the miscreant wears my shoes.
'Twould make old Job seem peeved, to see
How patient I can be with me!
Key Reflections In These Poems
-
Two Simple Words Can Make A Difference
Saying "forgive me" may not always be easy, but those words can help heal hurt and restore a relationship. Admitting when we are wrong shows humility and respect for the other person.
-
Forgiveness And Love Belong Together
Gillilan reminds us that people need love and understanding throughout their lives. When we approach others with love, it can become easier to forgive their mistakes and respond with kindness.
-
Remember Your Own Faults
We can sometimes be patient with our own shortcomings while quickly noticing the faults of someone else. Remembering that we also make mistakes can help us show others the same patience we give ourselves.
-
Choose Understanding Over Bitterness
Holding on to anger can make life harder for everyone involved. Forgiveness gives us an opportunity to move beyond bitterness and choose a more peaceful way forward.
Popular Pages
Explore more poems and thoughts about kindness, understanding, and the lessons we learn through life.
Reflect on experiences, relationships, and the lessons they bring with these Poems About Life.
Discover how one thoughtful action can make a difference with Showing Kindness To Others.
Read meaningful poetry from Strickland Gillilan and other writers on our Famous Poets page.
Find thoughtful words about relationships, challenges, and everyday experiences in these Life Quotes.
Conclusion
Forgiveness is not always easy, whether we are asking for it or giving it. These poems by Strickland Gillilan remind us that love, patience, and understanding can help us see the faults of others with a little more compassion.
We all make mistakes, and we all hope others will be patient with us when we do. Remembering this can make those two little words, "forgive me," easier to say and forgiveness easier to give. Life is better when we choose understanding over bitterness and make room for love to lead the way.
More Strickland Gillilan Poems to Inspire