If I Have To Lie Why Not? Poem by RIC BASTASA

ramon could not
survive in that
wintry quebec

he left his wife
and daughter
and went back to
our village

he invites his
friends and had
all those
drinks

he calls it
happiness

by chance i pass
there with my wife
and he calls me
for a drink

life is too short
for a serious
undertaking

"you take this drink
it will make you happy!
we need to be merry!

as custom dictates it
my wife went ahead
leaving me in this man's
game

i wave my hand
to refuse this matter
saying
" i got to go
but i will come back
for a while
to be with you guys! "

time has given me
a new name for happiness
and it is no longer
how ramon calls it.

if i have to lie
why not?