Ph: Life: ' No One's Betrayed Me Like You! ' Poem by Brian Johnston

At first blush, one might feel this 'curse' meant to condemn
but I beg you, take courage and listen with Soul,
for it isn't said often (though million times thought) ,
but with love wrapped in rhyme here, I say it to you!
The day Dad, deep in pain, spoke these words (and I heard)
there was no one else with us in car to deflect,
reinforce, sense of shame I feel sure we both felt
at the choice I had made to move him from his home
(from the woman he loved, the nice house that they shared) .

In my heart, I suspect I was truer to him
than I was to my mom, to bless one more, not goal
(but deal fairly with both) . My Dad's businesses bought
at such price, they had souls of their own (in his view?)
He put business needs over his home's care (absurd
on the face of it) . Let your home burn to protect
crops that grow? Not a choice I would make, but Dad dwelt
with wife's tears and kid's fears, his own Stockholm syndrome,
was not hip to estrangement, grok closeness impaired.

When we try to be fair, though, we're mostly not fair!
To be fair takes no effort; you are, or you're not.
In real service to self, you are kindest to all;
the world knows that you sin! It sees that clear as day
and births strategies meant to help soften your crimes.
You confuse folks by trying to show us new side;
your friends know truth's obscured, if not what. That's the truth!
To be fair's just your 'truth, ' you aren't known for your facts!
Do the world a great kindness and learn to relax!

You're mistaken if you think that I 'want in your slacks, '
if you live life extremely, I'll dote on your tracts,
if you're high or you're low means I'll find you uncouth,
that a tip of my hat means that you now have a ride!
It's the truth that most find these quite challenging times.
I think poems more pleasant than rolls in the hay,
and I don't need baths after or fear someone's call!
Let me live with betrayals like found Camelot,
for both lift me to heights where souls find sweet repair!


Brian Johnston
28th of January in 2021