Tell Me Lies

Who tells lies?
According to
fictional Gregory House, M.D.,
“Everybody lies.”

Certainly,
some among us lie
more than others. Perhaps called
pathological as in diseased,
uncontrollable, or obsessive
(no names please).
Sometimes it’s necessary.

But we are not born fibbers.
Lying is learned behavior
to equivocate or prevaricate,
but why? When and how
does the lying begin?
Intent matters. It’s a crime
when you swear you won’t
and then you do.

I still recall what I believe
was my first lie, but probably was not.
Self-protection
was why. I lied (long story) to my mother.
She often accused me of telling
a fib, or a “story;” inferring
dishonesty of the whiter degree.
Usually, I was telling the truth
(yet another story).

Almost expected in politicians,
I’ve seen it everyday, lying everywhere
by everybody: parents to children,
Supreme Cout Jurists (under oath),
police officers, teachers, married couples,
religious leaders and disciples to those leaders.
Pick a government agency
or automobile manufacturer—used car guys?
I even suspect that George Washington
engaged in the occasional untruth.

I am no wiser than the fictional Doctor House,
but I am older. I have more experience living.
I must agree—everybody lies. Deception
is not a skill unique to magicians. Liar!

Look both ways with discerning eyes at everything.
Mind the gaps and realize that a smile is a thin disguise—
“There ain’t no way to hide [those]… lyin’ eyes.”

***

The title is from lines in the Fleetwood Mac song, “Little Lies.” Gaps quote is from “Lyin’ Eyes,” a song by Eagles. How many songs (poems?) are about lies and deception? Hundreds?