The Naked Truth and the Lie

The Truth and the Lie meet one day.

The Lie says to the Truth,

“It’s a marvellous day today!”

The Truth looks up to the skies and sighs,
for the day was really beautiful.

They spend a lot of time together,
ultimately arriving beside a well.

The Lie tells the Truth,

“The water is very nice.
Let’s take a bath together!”

The Truth, once again suspicious,
tests the water and discovers
that it indeed is very nice.

They undress and start bathing.

Suddenly, the Lie comes out of the water,
puts on the clothes of the Truth,
and runs away.

The furious Truth comes out of the well
and runs everywhere to find the Lie,
to get her clothes back.

The World, seeing the Truth naked,
turns its gaze away
with contempt and rage.

The poor Truth returns to the well
and disappears forever,
hiding therein its shame.

Since then,
the Lie travels around the world,
dressed as the Truth,
satisfying the needs of society,

because the World, in any case,
harbours no wish at all
to meet the naked Truth.

The Truth will set you free,
but you have to get to her first.

— Paul Baldry
The Boy Writes from Within…

Inspired by the timeless allegory often linked to Jean-Léon Gérôme and his 1896 painting Truth Coming Out of Her Well. A poetic retelling exploring society’s preference for comforting lies over uncomfortable truths.

#TheNakedTruthAndTheLie #TruthVsLie #PoetryCommunity #PhilosophicalPoetry #PaulBaldryPoetry #TheBoyWritesFromWithin

https://www.facebook.com/me