On Deceit Poem by Glen Kappy

Let us not consign it
to the con men, addicts, and sociopaths alone.

No. It is currency for all of us
with aspects of ourselves we want to hide.

Me, I used it many times
at lovely Gloria's expense.

Eyes brown and liquid and long-lashed
her bottom beautifully curved and soft

skin that sun turned a golden tan
she was also at the top in school—

she gave herself to core and to elective
and (amazingly) to me.

Slave to hormones and hungry for experience
I wanted her and wanted more.

Pretending I was home on Friday nights
to get work done

she also stayed at home—
so much she trusted, so much she loved me.

Till finally I broke with her—
not so much for any other—as I realize now—

but at least in part because
I wanted freedom from my own deceit.