White Lies (poem)

By Luke Labern

Dreams that linger longer in the heart
Breathe new life into the lungs of art --
Pulse hope where it should not be
-- But that you cannot take from me.

White lies reveal human compassion
Sparsely, though -- we all most ration --
Else we lose the knowledge we have gained
Drowning in what mystery remains.

Beginning, middle and an ending
All live with certain death impending --
And still: the laughter never ceases
Even when lives lie in pieces.

What is joy, without a little grief? --
And what is faith without unbelief?
What on earth would be the point in bliss
Without an ending to all of this?