In circumstances such as war,
Patriots white lies deplore.
They speak sincerely from the heart
(In war there is less need of art)
Pride and hatred paint blood red
The blackening sepulchres of the dead.
But circumstances such as peace
Dry the mind with blessed release
And men of great imagination,
High resource and education,
Spend their time in learning how
To say the things events allow.
Then the time is ripe to send
A royal couple to pretend
That Abel had no brother Cain
Sepulchres are white again.
Of all the weapons men devise
By far the worthiest are white lies.
©Terry Hodgson2024
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