Integrity To Keep Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Standing up for what is right.
Can become a hazard to one's comfort.
And despite the fight,
Standing up for what is right...
Has its,
Alone nights.

Integrity to keep it,
Is and often brutal.
Integrity to know it kept,
Will never let rust...
Come near to touch the truth.

Today?
People with integrity,
Are dragged through the mud.
Today?
People with kept honesty,
Are the ones who bring suspicions...
Upon their humble modesty.
Today?
People who refuse to lie,
Are criticized and demeaned.
Today?
People who will empathize,
Are thought to be weak.
Baring their hearts on sleeves.
Although thieves have them pleading,
While on their bleeding knees.

A game to be played ages.
Many play it to be paid.
Living life in guilded cages.
To have pawned their souls away.

Today?
People with integrity,
Have been dragged through the mud.
Today?
People with integrity,
Will not...give up!
They stand.
For what is right.
And they stand.
Despite the fight.
With integrity to hold on tight,
Today.
With integrity to keep it right,
Today.