MENDACIOUS
Only the truth can set us free
Without the truth there is no liberty
Break the ties of lies that bind us in slavery
In this prison of mendacity
Before all freedom is forgotten
And there is no more democracy
The words mendacity and mendacious were briefly popular in the American lexicon after being featured predominately in Tennessee William’s play Cat On a Hot Tin Roof. In the play, a wealthy Southern family struggles to free themselves from a culture of lies. William’s play won the 1955 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This profile of a family struggling to free itself from a cult of lies struck a nerve in a nation that was tired of the never ending malicious falsehoods being spread during the McCarthy Era.
Sadly, the words ‘truth’ and ‘honesty’ like the terms mendacity and mendacious, have fallen into ambiguity. It’s my hope that my poem will help revive these long forgotten, but much need words, back into the American language and consciousness before the terms ‘freedom’ and ‘democracy’ also disappear from our language.
Like 2 Pin it 1
Support CosmoFunnel.com
You can help support the upkeep of CosmoFunnel.com via PayPal.
Comments
WOW!!..... so sorry I haven't been around much lately bro ......This is FANTASTIC brother poet....... the kind of write that makes me proud to spend time on COSMO..I'm a huge Tennessee Williams fan...... and have seen Cat On A Hot Tin Roof numerous times... the play and the film....I agree with you wholeheartedly on your grievance here...... even though I have spent most of my life ANY political entanglements...... it's in our faces ....amd we can't sit idly by without assuming some guilt.........THÎS IS AWESOME!!......PINNED.....hope everyone reads this my friend........ high fives!!.......LOVE and ROCKETS!!.......T xo. ?✳✴☀
Thanks Tony. Coming from such an accomplished poet as yourself, I appreciate the comment.