dishonesty is
the root cause of writer’s block
and other ailments
thou shalt not bear false
witness — in any language
or tradition, we’re taught
not to lie or cheat
and still who among us is
completely honest
self-deception
the deadliest sin, also
the most innocent
This week I wrote a
boring poem about an
umbrella because
I couldn’t write about the world
without exploding in rage
and I couldn’t write about my life
without imploding in shame
it is not a game
the death of democracy
the slow unraveling
of truths we thought were
were absolute and still cling
to with tearful resolve