we are hard, Margaret Atwood

i.

We are hard on each other
and call it honesty,
choosing our jagged truths
with care and aiming them across
the neutral table.

The things we say are
true; it is our crooked
aims, our choices
turn them criminal.


ii.

Of course your lies
are more amusing:
you make them new each time.

Your truths, painful and boring
repeat themselves over and over
perhaps because you own
so few of them.


iii.

A truth should exist,
it should not be used
like this. If I love you

is that a fact or a weapon?


iv.

Does the body lie
moving like this, are these
touches, hairs, wet
soft marble my tongue runs over
lies you are telling me?

Your body is not a word,
it does not lie or
speak truth either.

It is only
here or not here.

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