A Royal Visit

In circumstances such as war,

Patriots white lies deplore.

They speak sincerely from the heart

(In war there is less need of art)

Pride and hatred paint blood red

The blackening sepulchres of the dead.

But circumstances such as peace

Dry the mind with blessed release

And men of great imagination,

High resource and education,

Spend their time in learning how

To say the things events allow.

Then the time is ripe to send

A royal couple to pretend

That Abel had no brother Cain

Sepulchres are white again.

Of all the weapons men devise

By far the worthiest are white lies.

©Terry Hodgson2024