Hear the audio version of Curse.
A poem by Jack Varnell
The curse of a reformed liar
is that those closest to him,
The ones that love him,
Those usually a part of his completeness,
Rarely believe him reformed.
In the name of being as honest as possible
He’s made sure they know the former reputation.
Every disappointment, every failure, each weakness,
Is soon perceived to be a lie,
Even if only a yet to be fulfilled promise.
Time speeds up as standards rise.
The irony is that the reformed,
To counter reputation,
And to ensure minimal damage,
Resorts to an extreme level of honesty.
Honesty about current events,
Exposure to tales of the past create
An atmosphere of distrust–paranoia
Especially if the loved was a party to “back then”.
All words scrutinized, the reformed always suspect.
It is this honesty which causes
The problem in the first place,
Sealing the reformeds’ inevitable fate.
He becomes the liar he no longer wants to be.
The impetus of the curse is truth.
—
photo by lizmcdaniel / flickr
On Honesty:
The Paradox of Male Honesty
Tom Matlack hosts a Socratic Roundtable on Honesty with Joel Stein, Amanda Marcotte, Tom Miller, Dan Barrett and Todd Mauldin.
Ask an Honest Question, get an Honest Answer
Cameron Conaway’s fiancee asks him “How often do other women give you a bone?”
Honesty. Yeah, That’s an Action Word, Too.
When it comes to honesty, Lisa Hickey would rather ignore words and focus on actions.
The Curse of the Reformed Liar
A poem by Jack Varnell
Jack a powerful piece about perception of peoples nature , well thought and felt
Thanks so much Chris for all your support for both me, and the Good Men Project. I know you are a fine example of what it means to be one. Please consider engaging in the community and-submitting too.