The sun rises

(Grief and memory are smart but lies and their paths to betrayal end in the light)

I am an ice cream sandwich.

Be pessimistic. It’s sweeter when you are wrong, my friend said.

Lie to yourself, you can’t, said my friend.

Lie to your body, but strength is honesty, my mind said.

Listen to your body,

Obey your mind, my friend said.

The truth lies in your mind, she said.

Lies backfire as a betrayal

and echo through time.

The sons bear the wounds of her lies, and for them

the next one is around the corner

Grief and memory outsmart them. 

The sun knows this in silence and never silences his son, so trust

grows in the light that purifies the lies,

It must.

Or, Grief and memory will outsmart them. 

You may as well be an ice cream sandwich to her, she says

as the liar, like a drunk

sees only asparagus in her cup

not the black and white or shades of grey in her words

nor does she care

you are an ice cream sandwich.

Josephine claimed her lies improved on life,

Oscar knew a mask helped the liar speak the truth

Khaled weaved lies into the truth

Aragon said things without saying anything

​then Stella exaggerated, mostly about her;

So, why don’t dogs ever lie?

Nor anyone to the FBI.

Nor any starling to the one next to him?

Trust, character, and character.

New words for the liar.

Not for the silent four-legged guardian.

Hold on, the sun is rising. As he will.

©Philippe du Col, 2025