Enemies – By Wendell Berry

If you are not to become a monster,


you must care what they think.


If you care what they think,



how will you not hate them,


and so become a monster


of the opposite kind? From where then



is love to come—love for your enemy


that is the way of liberty?


From forgiveness. Forgiven, they go



free of you, and you of them;


they are to you as sunlight


on a green branch. You must not



think of them again, except


as monsters like yourself,


pitiable because unforgiving.