Self Deception Poem by Terry Collett

Self deception
is the worst deception
he said
it betrays
deep within
and when
the collapse comes
as it will
the two sides
are spilt like
two sides of a truth.

The quack sat
and listened
and lit up a cigar
and wrote down notes
looking up
now and then
and peered
at his patient
understandingly
or so appeared.

I thought
I thought it through
but I hadn't
I thought of only
those aspects
I wanted to look at
and think about.

The quack raised
thick eyebrows
and put on his
I know what you mean gaze
but inside thought
the patient was out
on a limb and had
no idea what to do for him.

I knew I didn't like it
but I pretended I did
I deceived myself
I fooled myself
and then I opened up
to myself and there
were two of us
me and him
the fucking cuss.

The quack frowned
puffed out smoke
stared at the patient
through a cloud of grey
just another patient
just another day.