What if I admitted to you,
here and now,
before I even begin,
before I even let you in,
that all I am about to tell you is a lie,
perhaps white, perhaps a depth darker.
What if I lay it all on the line,
here and now, naked,
the truth of all the lies,
would you believe me,
would you still listen,
would you still want to hear
and make up your own mind
if what I’m telling you is a lie
or if I’m just laying lines upon the truth?
We live a life
on both sides of the line
and exist somewhere
in between what we believe
and what we know to be false.
I have told the truth many times,
its many lines spilt
over many skins, in many beds
and still I lie alone.
This is what I have left;
this is the truth of my lie.
All words and photographs by Damien B. Donnelly
12th poem for National Poetry Writing M0nth 2019
Damien B. Donnelly 
Shades of lies. That last line…
I love the white rose and the poetic connections you’ve made! I’ve noticed in Reader that you’ve done a number of colour poems but alas I’ve had little time to read anything as we’ve just moved house and I’ve been packing and cleaning at the previous place, with no internet. We made the move a few days ago but still very busy. Over time I hope to catch up on what I’ve missed!
Oh but how wonderful that you are unpacking and settling in to your new home! Have you moved are still in the same area? I hope all went smoothly and the new walls are finding colors to comfort you both! Happy unpacking and enjoying your new home 🍾🍾💐💐
Tapanui is only a half-hour drive from Gore. There were lots of small picture-hooks already scattered over the walls and I’ve hung our pictures all over the place! Some big pictures still to go. Since you published “Look for me in the layers lost..” I’ve had your photo+poem on my fridge door – it still has pride of place! Cute picture thingies you added to your message 🙂 Thanks!
Oh, I really like this one, Damien.
I can imagine it almost as the narrator of a novel (if that makes sense). 🙂
“and exist somewhere
in between what we believe
and what we know to be false.”
Thanks Merril, I get what you mean about the narrator,
Maybe it’s the beginning of a short story waiting to be explored
I think it might be. 🙂
I enjoyed this poem. I especially like these lines. “We live a life on both sides of the line and exist somewhere in between “
Thank you so much Ali. I really wasn’t sure about this one, wasn’t sure it was actually a poem or a confession but it seems to be reaching people. Thank you 🤗
Wonderful play on words here Damien. Truth and lies are so slippery, and they do overlap sometimes, don’t they? We often don’t know ourselves which side of the line we are on. (K)
It’s a very fine line, even for ourselves to know who we are. We lie so often to ourselves just to get through certain things. Hopefully the Truth will reveal itself when needed. 🤞🤗
This. SO this.
I have told the truth many times,
its many lines spilt
over many skins
Sometimes, all the truth in the world doesn’t make anything better. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t…
That’s the thing, fiction or fact, eventually you believe what you want to.
I think it’s just the nature of it – self preservation p’raps.
Hi again.. right now I’m working on a “white” post and I intend to use your white rose photo and link to your poem – hope this is ok with you Dami as I may not receive your reply before I publish! As always, my very best wishes!
Of course, never a no from me to you 🤗
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