Confession Is Good For the Soul
So many times I have failed the truth
It is hard to point out a single incident
But I can remember a few from my youth
When I was most assuredly insistent.
If “failed the truth” is to tell an untruth
Then, I must admit I am guilty as sin--
Recall saying I loved and would marry Ruth
But what I really wanted was to get in.
Ruth was much more virtuous than I
She stuck to her values, no matter what
And though I swore love until I’d die
She lived by what life lessons had taught.
Months later when we were separated
And I was in the military far, far away
I wrote her a letter I am sure devastated
It was cheesy, a poor way goodbye to say.
The worst part of failing the truth is
It generally hurts another person bad,
What may be worse than the guilty “Kiss-
Off” is leaving the one who loved you, sad.
A confession, failing the truth, is demanded
Or Karma will strike with pure vengeance
Especially when you behaved underhanded,
You will certainly serve the full life sentence.
Since the days of Ruth, I have been left
By someone I thought sincerely loved me
My heart was ripped, and I felt utterly bereft
And I recalled how I treated sweet Ruthie.
TENTH PLACE WINNER
Written June 27, 2021
exclusively for "Once More I Failed the Truth" poetry contest
sponsored by Kai Michael Neumann
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