WORDS AND TRUTH

Read between the lines, always.

Words are daggers,
to impale nuggets of truth.
Or spades, to bury secrets
in the forests of deceit.
Read the man,
not his words.

Reviews

[M. J. Smith]

Read the man, not his words...
Never in anytime in history has that lesson been more sorely needed. My heart breaks when I look at what has become of my Homeland.
Wise words, my friend. This old drifter thanks you for sending this one out into the world.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks again M. I understand how upsetting the political situation is in America. We have our own problem here with Boris and his inability to tell the truth.
Take care.
Alan

[M. J. Smith]

At least Boris didn't call vivid a hoax even as thousands died! Donald was the most incompetent president this nation has ever seen. It breaks my heart to know that all it would take is one good shove in the wrong direction. I feel that a dictator is so close to power. But a drifter with a family is powerless even to run. How can otherwise educated people be so blind and stupid?

[alanwgraham]

I Agree with you completely. What is so frightening is Trumps huge support and how America has become a fractured society.
Regards,
Alan

[Rev Edward McClelland]

The scariest part of current events is that we really don't even know who is pulling the strings for Joe Biden., who on any day wouldn't even know what day it never mind win a election and run a country We did have a great leader from 2016 to 2020 and it took the previous disaster to get him to run. This current Presidency is bad enough so that I am certain that President Trump will run and win again for the third time.

[M. J. Smith]

Uhh, yeah. Moving on...

[alanwgraham]

If my poem was written for anyone it was for Trump. The scariest thing about Trump, is that he has so many supporters.

[pinhead07]

I really enjoyed reading this, in a world where most of the time, I feel, people are in conflict with themselves, words have become just words that people use to get themselves out of tricky situations, people use them to lie to themselves and to others before the truth finally catches up, and even then some, it can become quite difficult to know who a person really is even after spending time with someone, everyone's a good liar I feel! Anyway, top score :)

[alanwgraham]

Thanks P. Your review is spot on. The funny thing with Trump is that everyone knows he lies all the time.
Hope you are keeping safe
All the best
Alan

[Wild Rose]

True read his actions > Does he do as he preaches _ So many dont

[alanwgraham]

Thanks for your review WR. This poem seems to have stuck a chord.
Take care.
Alan

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i do think the words are the man....."i am not a poet, living is the poem" (Melanie Safka)
spades and daggers for sure.
This is so good, alan.
You leave it open for us to dig and stab to find its truth.
j.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Jacob. I don't know about you but I'm finding it hard to focus these days. It's perhaps not too amazing how often reviewers relate my poem to trump but we have our share of rogues across here too.
If nothing else these times might give us pause for thought on many fronts and particularly the climate crisis.
Take care,
Alan

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Amazing write here!
I wrote similar lines re words as daggers knives 🔪 in my oblivion poem ages ago
I like the shortness abruptness of this short poem
Love the last two lines especially

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Julie. It seems even more apt in these days. Who can you trust. Don't get me started!
Take care.
Alan

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

You too thanks Alan

[...]

I think that last lines someone wrote before you. I think it was Seneca or Socrates I am not sure.

But you point out what we sometimes missing. So many people will pretend at words how they are humble and brave. But just give them chance to proof it. Some of them will sink down. Short poems can be quiet mind openers.And you did great job. It really give me trigger if I was always honest at my written words. Probably not we often create own facades to cover our weakness and vices. Thanks for great piece.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks P for your very thoughtful comments. Just out of interest I googled my last lines and couldn't find a match.
Take care.
Alan

[...]

Well I did same. But I cannot find it too. I am sure I already read it or maybe hear it at some movie. I will let you know if I will find something out. All the best.

[alanwgraham]

Ha ha. I'll apply to get it in the dictionary of quotations!

[...]

Ha maybe we should make something like dictionary quotations of writers from writers cafe. Who knows what kind of pearls are hiding here.

[Beccy]

Observing the hype surrounding modern times 'fake news' one could be forgiven for imagining it is a fairly recent phenomenon made popular by dear old President Trump. I think Socrates would have a thing or two to say about that.

'Read the man, not the words,' a spot on observation Alan and never more important than in today's increasingly shallow, sound bite world.

Beccy.

PS. I heard the other day that Mark Zukerberg, is having a gender change procedure. Pass it along... :))

[alanwgraham]

Thanks for reading and your thoughts. I wrote this a while ago and added the last two lines as they seemed so relevent to the present day.
All the best,
Alan

[PenManShep]

I liked the last lines "Read the man, not his words." So many people's words do not match their actions. The really sad thing is when a person lies to themselves. If you really want to be a certain kind of person, live it, don't just say it. Words can lie, action is truth. Great work Alan!

[Neville]

This is a great post my friend... and I mean that in the truest sense of the word great.. there is not only much truth contained within, but also an important lesson... it is also great in the sense that I like it very much indeed....

Neville

[alanwgraham]

Ta Neville. I had actually posted this a few years ago but I tried to be a bit too clever and not many read it. I do think the message is important but I think only the converted will agree. The others are already choking on fake news.
Cheers,
Alan

[Neville]

I am sure U R write...

[Neville]

I could not resist the pull of these fine words.. a universal truth if ever there was.. and some are so important tis good to know how and where to find them when one needs to be reminded...

Thanks again Alan,

Neville

[alanwgraham]

Who to believe has been more important than ever recently Neville. The old adage about ' fooling all of the people some of the time etc' is spot on. The image of gibbering Boris flanked by his 'tame scientists' will live on in our memories!
All the best.
Alan

[Neville]

Certainly in mine.. frightening innit .. Go good n well n safe

Neville

[John the Baptist]

Very brief and pithy, this one. Words can indeed be used for nefarious purposes, but used too frequently, they can also say things about the writer, things that person did not want to advertise.

[alanwgraham]

Many thanks John. We are certainly living in a time of lies and deceipt. We have our share in Britain too but perhaps it's always been that way. Surely everyone knows Trump is lying, it's just suits them to say nothing.
All the best,
Alan

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

And there’s the rub! You are so right Alan. Deceptive words are being bandied about for effect, persuasion, control, drama, brain-washing, Ill-gotten gain, etc.....everywhere we turn. The men who spew them are corrupt power-mongers. Your poem is concise, wise and right on-point my friend.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Annette. The truth will out, they say. I think not. Enjoying our last day of Spanish sun but good to get home.
Hope you are enjoying life!
Alan