Honesty Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Honesty,
To live and be...
Honest.
Today?
Invites suspicion.
Since not too many accept,
This to be a sincere delivery.

Honesty,
To live and be...
Honest.
Today?
Seems more a myth.
Our ancestors passed.
With this wished they had,
Witnessed to exist.

Honesty,
To live and be...
Honest.
Today?
Is a challenge.
A task.
Something felt,
Few admit.
Or to others be claimed,
They are not ashamed of it.

Honesty,
To live and be...
Honest.
Has more to do,
With a having of integrity.
Respect to give.
Yet not expect these days,
To be given it to receive.

Although,
Honesty to live and be...
Honest.
Is not necessarily,
What one expects...
From others to get.
Honesty first,
To recognize what it is.
And means to live.
Will keep one away from those,
Quick to expose...
Their relationship with deception.
Leaving one who knows honesty,
Not to follow,
Behind liars who insist...
Lies to tell,
Is for them a benefit!