What would you like me to say?

By Rhiannonw

Mon, 16 May 2016
  • 2364 reads
10 comments
 

Though that is true,
I’ll say, for you,
that it is not,
– if you will quietly
pay my way,
I’ll say that
black is grey,
or white,
and wrong
is right –
who cares what’s true,
or what you do
as long as no-one knows
but me and you.

I’ll never know
if oil that drips
out from your lips
is false or fact,
genuine or tact,
or mixed bouquet.
You wont be sure
that what I say
is true or trash,
corrupt, impure.

And so I must endure
my many friends
of gift, or flattery
(that love pretends):
expendable;
no soul-mates
staunch, dependable,
reliable:
a longing loneliness,
brittle happiness,
ephemeral
as the
riches
I possess;

my tongue’s for sale,
and will not fail
– you hope.

[IP: corruption]

Certificate U
Poem
Miscellaneous
Philosophy
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by hilary west on

Hi Rhiannon,

The oil that drips from my lips is in fact true in this instance to say well done on this well thought out little poem.

Best Wishes,  HW  smiley

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Hilary, and I appreciate it especially as you are not asking me for money to say it! warm regards, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Deliberately Ev... on

I think you just summed up my current thoughts. This is brilliant! Love the rhymes and the structure of the poem too.

The beat of your heart is the mellifluent rhythm to my soul.

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, AE. good to hear from you again. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

This made me think of thow the Red Indians used to describe a treacherous person: 'forked tongue'.
You have met the challenge by describing the various layers of corruption.
As nobody has thought of a cherry, have a virtual one from me.

Luigi x

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Luigi, I appreciate your accolade, and judgement very much! Rhiannon (PS I hope they don't think this is the real me speaking of my tongue!!)

 

Submitted by jeand on

HI Rhiannon

As always, you pick difficult subjects and don't shy away from awkward truths. How many of us really want to know what people think - if their honesty might hurt our feelings or sensibilities.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Hi, Jean. You pick up that word 'tact' I think, which I did think twice about (obviously it was nice to have a rhyme with 'fact'!) as tact is certainly not wrong, and we don't have to voice everything, without considering the time and way of leading to a difficult subject if indeed it does need saying. Here I was focussing on the saying of anything (particularly if paid, as in corruption) irrespective of whether it is an outright lie. One can surely avoid something without lying, but if one is prone to lie, others can't trust your words, and that prevents true friendship. And then we don't know whether it is truth, falsehood, or just tact that is being voiced, ie we are in the dark.  I hope that is what was on your mind. regards, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by loquaciousicity on

This is a splendid work, Rhiannon, in every way... I enjoyed and can really identify... Terry

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you very much, Terry. Glad you felt it worked. Rhiannon