Preferred As Protective Devices Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

In unfortunate ways these days,
People are allowed to betray themselves.
And with validation...
From those they declare as friends.
With a shallowness sought and received from them.

Today few have close friends.
Too many are accustomed to dishonesty.
And truth is disbelieved.
Even some find the mention of it offends.

Delusions are preferred as protective devices.
And when visions becomes blurred,
People seek actively deception as advice.
Only to complain to others what they've heard...
About their depressed and troubled lives.

Leaving that wide of a gap in their minds.
And finding it convenient to wallow away in grief.