Keeping It That Way Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Why do the people seem so angry?

'I've heard it said they feel deceived.'

Deceived?
By whom, who and/or what?

'Incredible enough,
The feel deceived by those who spoke the truth.'

What sense does that make?
Why would they be offended by honesty?

'It's complicated.
You see...
Believing themselves to be deceived,
They perceived the others to be deceivers as well.
And discovering them to have been honest...
Has not been easy for those upset to accept.
Since never before had they encountered such honesty.'

And...
Why are the ones who have been honest with it done,
Not upset or expressing it?

'If honesty is beneficial to them in a keeping it that way,
Why would they be the ones to express anger? '

I bet they were thought to be fools?
You know, the ones honest and truthful.

'You may have a point.
Especially if those who 'perceived' them to be such,
Have awakened to realize the definition with meaning.
And that acknowledgement is difficult to dismiss,
In today's disclosing times and this kind of environment.'

Honesty 'is' the best policy.

Sssshhh!
Keep your voice down.
I don't want them rolling their eyes at us.