Subject: The Price of Dishonesty
From: Christopher W. Thomas (creatician@poetic.com)
Host: dnb-as1s33.erols.com
Date: Fri Dec 26, 1997 at 6:58PM

So many people come and go, through our lives

Some do it honestly, for others - it's just a ride -
They take on a shortened train without caboose
For they are riding on a tide which is quite loose

And sooner or later, they will slip and fall on the tracks
Becoming so marked, they'll have a hard time looking back
At the reflection of themselves in the shiny mirrored glass
Which will show them an image which is dark at the pass

And the swollen lines and circles under their eyes will show
The hardness in their hearts which has very little soul below
And the enormous guilt with which they live day-in and day-out
Will soon boil over and then they will lash out at anyone about

If you come into contact with people with these darkened souls
Move away from them quickly before you suddenly become old
From the stress which their lies will induce in your mind and body
Prompting you to close down completely and run for a hot toddy

To soothe your rattled nerves which their lies have stood on edge
And to want to run and hide - so in future you can better pledge
Yourself to the promise of cleaner thoughts which are your hedge
Against the meanness of those whose words take you to that ledge

Lies which people tell about others - they consider to be THEIR hedge
Which they feel put them in a better place so other people will stretch
To hear other things they've got to say, which is all hot air they fetched
From the very recesses of their fantasical minds, which they've hatched

There are many ways to separate all of the facts from the fiction
All you have to do is watch carefully how they use their diction
A clever person can see very easily - how much of it is a hoax
For the dishonest person will never, ever - laugh WITH the jokes ...

- Tristram
7pm Boxing Day 97