if medusa had been forgiven

would her snakes have turned to vines

and their venomous teeth

transformed into redemptive flowers

for the pardon of her crime

would she still shut her eyes

for fear of turning people to stone

suffering isolated in a world

that is completely her own

if medusa had been forgiven

would people still look upon her with horror

and running when she crossed the street

to only cause her innumerable tortures

would she never fall in love again

for fear of turning into a monster

becoming once again the creature

that told her nobody loved her

if medusa had been forgiven

what would have changed

for even forgiven,

their fear would still remain