stretch the truth

stretch the truth

as politicians are not alone in doing

mislead

while not a lie, is close enough to diminish

prevaricate

it’s easier on your conscience than lying

gain in the world

lose whatever you valued in your own eyes

new friend

a new friend

from a part of the country

i know little about

raised in undertones

my childhood never felt

yet sharing a sense of self-worth

and dignity we both

must have known

since we could first print

our own names

pity the child unsure

pity the child unsure of his own worth

whose defense is bluff, bluster, bullying

the child grows – tall if not up

still fearful without compassion

or even acknowledgement of others

still wielding bluff and bullying

but having outgrown the pity others

were willing to afford him as a child