“Above all, don’t lie to yourself.”

—	Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

 

I can lie to myself easily enough,

With small shifts in the story to adjust

The present view, to accommodate

a new façade on the old denouement.

 

Although, it is less work to accept

The dominant narrative; the mundane

Given, leading toward an obvious proof;

Someone else’s truth not your own.

 

I am so tired, and there are so many

Steps to manage the smallest crisis:

What to buy for dinner? Should I change

Lanes now, or wait a mile or two.

 

I simply rearrange the bread crumbs

I’ve dropped for you along the way.

 

(December 20, 2017)