Candor
on human complexity
You're capable of anything;
epiphany, atrocity.
The multitudes you're carrying;
simplicity, monstrosity.
The grip of terror in the dark
and inelastic, burning breath.
Get ready, set, and hit your mark,
your schadenfreude shibboleth.
A tainted saint or painted ape.
An asterisk or obelisk.
The villain's hat, the hero’s cape,
the actuary’s tabled risk.
In prayer or depredation lurks
the same well-meaning, feral heart.
In all your words and all your works,
choose candor as a place to start.
Finished February 23, 2025
© Thomas James 2025. All Rights Reserved.
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