To do its dirty work:

Early in a life

To implant hatred,

Fear, rejection;

Early in a love

Sowing small untruths

To cover tiny

Irregularities,

To murmur white,

Mauve and lavender lies.

Deceit rose early

In the garden

To make our

Mother doubt,

To make life

Seem like death,

And to shut glory's door.

- Karleen E. Wickham Page ©1991-99