Truth Can Offend And Sicken Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Truth offends.
And results in heated arguments.
Between neighbors, family members.
Also those once calling themselves,
Friends for life.
Because of truth told to dislike.

Yet lies to create them,
On a daily basis to deceive.
Are shared to embellish.
With exaggerated testimony.
Convincingly sold to believe.

Only seriously is truth to take it,
When the effects of it creates despair.
Leaving someone/anyone,
Stricken to become sick.
And tricked with treats to feed,
A dishonesty intended.
That suffocates truth reducing it to humor.
Suddenly laughter stops and eyes roll.
As if this to do expresses empathy.
Used as a tool to fool unconscious souls.

Truth offends.
And results in heated arguments started.
Between neighbors, family members and friends.
All once to have been close when joking.
But unaccustomed to truth spoken.
When done to do to introduce it.
Causing a reason to have the police called.
To break up a brawl of related acquaintances.
With arresting them all for domestic violence.
And disturbing the peace,
Of the ones awakened from their sleep.
And leaning out of windows listening,
To police.
Looking around for any weapons found.

"Calm down!
CALM DOWN! !
Please folks.
Let's make an attempt to be adults.
CAN anyone here,
Tell me 'whatever' this is.
And how it started? "

-Instead of lieing to each other.
Like we normally would do.
The ones over there,
With their weaves laying all in the street.
Decided today of all days,
They would begin telling the truth.
And I told them...
'Aint nobody gonna come in my house,
Trying to change MY furniture around.
That ain't allowed.
And be drinking up my liquor.
Eating the last of my pickled pig feet.
Not in my house.
Today, tomorrow or days to come,
That...
Will not happen here! '-

"And...
How do you folks know each other? "

-Well...
Some of us are related.
And go to the same church.
A few of us use to be lovers.
And cousins too but didn't know it.-

"You all stay right where you are.
I'm calling the 'chief'.
To request this be videotaped.
This has promise to beblockbuster.
A 'reality' show too real.
Folks...
Leave everything where it is.
Give me a few minutes.
Oh...
And your name? "

-Me?
Twanaquanda Estell Jackson.
But they call me 'Kiwi'.-

"Kiwi?
I'm retiring soon.
And you...
You are going to be a star.
Trust me."