"Lying is always bad"
Is a lie.
*
A child proudly presents a "masterpiece" you'd sooner burn.
Better to say it's beautiful.
A lie is acceptable to spare someone's feelings.
*
A friend asks what you're planning for his birthday.
Better to come up with some boring option.
A lie is acceptable to protect a surprise.
*
A suspicious-looking person asks if you're alone.
Better to say you have company.
A lie is acceptable for safety.
*
A terminally ill friend asks if she'll improve.
Better to say maybe or that you don't know.
A lie is acceptable to alleviate pain.
*
Sometimes,
Albeit, rarely,
The truth does more harm than a lie.
And that's no lie.
About the Creator
Julie Lacksonen
Julie has been a music teacher at a public school in Arizona since 1987. She enjoys writing, reading, walking, swimming, and spending time with family.
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More stories from Julie Lacksonen and writers in Poets and other communities.
At My Wits’ End
Life is about taking out the trash and calling it trash because you have every reason to. It wasn't meant to be linear, they say. But the times you tried to make it straight led to problems, and you didn’t have the tools to put any of it to use. You don't put your right shoes on the right feet; you put the left shoes on the left feet. The grey hardened slab will trip you up anyway.
By Caitlin Charlton3 days ago in Humans
Comments (4)
Oh, yes, I can relate to that! Sometimes there's no other option.
Provocative poem for sure.
SHHHHH In Japan it is rude to say no. So they say yes, but mean now. However, it is the tone that tells you them mean no. LOL I grew up in Japan
This was another great piece. I did a piece about lying a while ago. Though mine was from a different perspective.