If the truth sets us free
Then why do some lie
Twist the facts and contort them
To beggar belief and defy
Freedom and integrity,
Honour and trust
For the truth’s none negotiable
And is simply a must
So don’t lie, use deceit
Drive the truth under ground
Deflect honesty’s spotlight
For in time you’ll be found
Out and your lies
Will become quite renown
As your fibs, fraud and falsehoods
Will hunt you right down
You marry them and you think
Life’s going to be fine
But that’s not always the true case
As you find out down the line
When they screw you over
Lie and deceive
And then try to pretend
That it would be great if you two could
Remain the best of friends
Yet that is not how it works out
For if you want to stay
A friend with your ex, I suggest
You play fair every day
Be honest, show integrity
In everything you do
Even when you want to split up
Be kind; compassionate too
And think just what you are doing
To the one that you have loved
Put yourself in their shoes for a while
And approach them with kid gloves
Considering how you would feel
If you were in their place
For break ups are quite hard to bear
So tiptoe with much grace
And concede that emotions will
Fly round and round a bit
As hurt subsides and passions cease
To have such a snug fit
And then leave space where it’s needed
Respect your ex and wait
Until they want to speak to you
Until their nerves don’t grate
At just the mention of your name
The smell of aftershave
Or perfume that they recognize
For you’re not there to save
Them from their fate nor control them
Tell them what to do each day
Nor interfere with their lives for
You chose to walk away
And as such you much thus accept
That though you’d like to be
Their friend forever, as you once were
You have to set them free
To live, to learn and love again
To find their own heartbeat
For then in time you may find out
They’ll be prepared to greet
You as a friend and say hello
Maybe even share a brew
But when alls said and all is done
It will be down to you
To handle your relationship
The way that you would choose
How others would also treat you
Then you’ll have nowt to lose!
In life it’s far too easy
To get hold of some bricks
And build up walls or barricades
Thinking they’ll do the trick
Of blocking confrontation
Keeping the out-group out
In ways that when alls said and done
Do little without doubt
Yet if we use those bricks to lay
A path on which we walk
Together we will learn much more
Can listen and can talk
So that assumptions render none
Judged in a way that they
Will feel abused; misunderstood
Or hurt in any way.
So given half a dozen bricks
A bucket of cement
Use these tools wisely to embrace
A life of good intent
And pave ways forward that ensure
Each opportunity
Considers truth; upholds goodness
And paves integrity
Is it a buzz word that flies about
Much like a wasp with meaningless intent
Flittering on the brink of twisted fate
Where outcome surpasses means
And excuses rectitude
Or more so a way of life
Subscribing to righteousness
Adhering to ethics
Upholding morality
Navigating goodness
For that is my kind of integrity
Bottled candour defining honesty
Facing the truth head on
With accountability and honour
Amidst a world of corruption
Every word that we speak
Every thought we hold back
Every action we do
Sets indelible tracks
And marks that are etched
On the minds and the hearts
Of those we hold dear
Plus those set apart
So that at the end
When we breathe our last breath
We’ll be sure that our legacy
Will survive past our death
So we’ll know that our life
Has been lived; no regret
With no shame nor missed chance
As none should forget
That an olive branch offered
May be the last that we see
If we don’t accept it with honour
And integrity
And that opportunity wasted
Is washed away in our tears
So make the most of your life
And enjoy every year
An agreement is an agreement
A treaty, pact and pledge
To fulfil and to honour
And to not sit on the hedge
But to discharge undertakings
With truth; integrity
So that trust is maintained between
All sides and all parties
For there is nothing greater
Than the word of any man
The bond that’s made in promises
That paves the way of ‘can’
That lights the path of truthfulness
And warms the heart all told
For words and wills so set in stone
Are worth their weight in gold
In search of the truth
Honour and integrity
Upholding justice
With all the money in the world
Somethings are not for sale
Good manners, morals and respect
Are free – no cash entailed!
Then character and common sense
Sit past the bankers door
Lest trust, patience, integrity
No charge for rich or poor
And then there’s love with no set price
Not to be bought or sold
For all these things you cannot buy
Just learn, uplift, behold!
Virtue (Photo credit: Leonard John Matthews)
There’s a culture of blame apparent
That’s swept across the land
Paralysing the sense of freedom
Taking truth hostage in its stand
There’s a move towards complacency
That’s asphyxiating hearts
An inability to apologize
Segregating into parts
There’s a harbouring of hatred
Suffocating liberty
Depriving love and laughter
Detaining in captivity
There’s an ethos of rash judgement
That fails to understand
Neglecting to appreciate
Different perceptions hand in hand
There’s a path of destruction
That stifles global breath
Draining empathy and compassion
Leaving a trail of death
There’s a choice to be made?
A subscription to integrity
Upholding honour daily
With truth and responsibility
Ginz&Tonic 