The Truth of It

If Dr. Seuss were to write a morality poem about what TRUTH is, it might sound a bit like this.

JUDGE 

(TO BOTH PLAINTIFF AND DEFENDANT):

Though I appreciate you both believe you have a valid arguments and thereby a case, it is clear you are both unable to see beyond the limits of your own point of view.  

I must point out to you that though you each believe your own version of Truth is the accurate account, there is something about Truth that you are both guilty of failing to understand:

The Truth of it is ...

The Truth it is...

The Truth is

The Truth...

The Truth is the Truth and it never will change.

What it is now it will be then, and again.

Truth remains staid and is never subjective,

It is never the root cause of life's pain.

Truth may not be possessed nor held unto at all,

Won’t be borrowed, nor lent, nor levied.

Truth will stand only for what it is, unchanging.

And will remain all that it is or will be.

Truth will not stand for this thing or that,

It cannot belong to here, nor to there.

Truth will not be hidden in secrets or whispers.

Truth is causeless, eternal, without care.

Truth won’t be adjusted to meet any end.

Nor truth can you ever deceive.

Truth cares not if you love, adore or embrace it.

Nor cares if you do or do not believe.

What Truth is today is as it ever will be.

Truth remains steadfast and ever consistent.

Truth cannot be bent to a will or intent.

Nor can it change from "it is" to "it isn’t".

What you call Truth is not Truth at all,

But only shades of unexamined perception,

Of all you’ve known, seen or felt within your own limitations.

What you call Truth is just your own self reflection.

To see Truth as it stands is a dificult thing

When viewed through only your one set of eyes.

Eyes trained to see only in preconceived patterns,

And discount all other view points  as lies.

You may continue on in this discourse forever.

You can fight, skirmish and battle the day long

But the truth will remain in the gulf standing between you,

And you will both go to your graves being wrong.

If you want to bring closure to what you have here,

While still enjoying what is left of your youth,

I suggest you throw down the arms, admit you are wrong,

And that in between you is where lies the truth.

CASE DISMISSED

Author's Note

A long held belief of mine that the truth remains veiled while we sit in the throes of discord. Not certain I said it best here, but I am satisfied for now that at least it has been said.

Reviews

[Muse]

Truth is....in our perception. It is like trying to convert an athiest into believing in God. Or like trying to convince an alchoholic that the pain feels better when sober. It is the naive belief that our children can do no wrong despite the fact they just lied to you an hour ago. Even the most convincing conspiracy theories that present all the supporting facts and witnesses..it will always stay just a conspiracy theory...because you will always have unbelievers. Ignorance is sometimes...eternal bliss.

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

Thank you for taking time to stop in and read ... think on this one. One would think TRUTH would be more positively referenced, yet life proves that is not always the case. Yin/Yang - Black/White - Truth/UnTruth. One does not exist without the other. Thank you for your thoughts here.

[Tate Morgan]

I think you did well Very well

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

Thank you. Your opinion matters to me.

[Rusty]

Truth = what I believe.

What I believe € truth.

I have said for years truth equals what I believe but what I believe does not always equal the truth.

Nice foray into a thought rendering sauce.

[bob, small b. aka invs]

i have had long, long discussions with a friend of mine on this subject. i'd like to think that there is some great objective truth in the universe whether or not we ever know what it is. that's the problem. what we know is always clouded by our perceptions and preconceptions. so what good is a great truth if it is unknowable? or at the very least questionable due to our own limits? so many questions. so many questions.

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

I think knowing that our capacity to see the truth is greatly diminished in proportion to the degree of our emotions is absolutlely enough to know. It is what allows me to admit that though I may believe in my right, there is always a greater truth that stands. This way I am never right, and also never really wrong. This value here.. It has allowed me to make peace where before peace seemed impossible. If I can not be sure I am right, why ever would I continie to insist it was so? Then is when I become willing to make compromise for the greater good... Peace.

[roarke]

I'm sure I heard judge Judy say something along the same lines....
I think your statement in the author's note says it just as strongly:
"A long held belief of mine that the truth remains veiled while we are sit in the throes of discord."

Truth is like Zen, a sublime distillation of the minutia usually fought over in drawn out litigation. You've included lots of good points here, might be interesting to see a bit more of the plaintiff and defendant before/during/after.

This took a lot of effort and thought and commitment to bring it out in writing.

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

Thank for your take on this. Though I do respect and welcome all feedback, there are some opinions I hold in extremely high regard. Your is in that category. As always, thank you.

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

For the record... what could have wound up as an ugly cat fight began right here. Author deleted all related comments in order to maintain the integrity of the review process for what it is; a place where we may review the writing and technique of our peers. All other personal opinions or statements should be taken offline. I maintain that as this site is open to all, regardless of ability OR age, it is the responsibility of the mature writers here to model appropriate behavior for those coming behind us..

[MoriartyMesa]

Now this springs to mind Voltaire, or maybe it was a tribute to him. Not too sure right now. But that is where it took me.

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

Yes! Absolutely! Totally my intent! Nailed it!

A happy accident as it turns out, but I do take this as praise... From a story writer such as yourself, it is much appreciated. Thank you for thoughtful commentary.

[Baby Ricochet]

"What you call truth is not truth at all
but only shades of un explained perception"
Oooh. I love that.
That whole stanza's awesome!
Great poem..

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

Thank you much for the comments and praise. This one has a deep seated meaning for me so that you come by to read, and take time to review is appreciated.

[Marie]

Yes, it has been said. But people cling to their own versions of truth and would rather die than give them up...even when they're proven wrong....

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

Absolute fact in that ma'am. If one would just start with the premise that there are three versions of the truth: yours, mine and the TRUTH there leaves little room to continue with an argument. (I NEVER forget this myself! NOT!)