L Milton Hankins | + Follow Poet |
Quatrain | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

Confession Is Good For the Soul

So many times I have failed the truth
It is hard to point out a single incident
But I can remember a few from my youth
When I was most assuredly insistent.

If “failed the truth” is to tell an untruth
Then, I must admit I am guilty as sin--
Recall saying I loved and would marry Ruth
But what I really wanted was to get in.

Ruth was much more virtuous than I
She stuck to her values, no matter what
And though I swore love until I’d die
She lived by what life lessons had taught.

Months later when we were separated
And I was in the military far, far away
I wrote her a letter I am sure devastated
It was cheesy, a poor way goodbye to say.

The worst part of failing the truth is
It generally hurts another person bad,
What may be worse than the guilty “Kiss-
Off” is leaving the one who loved you, sad.

A confession, failing the truth, is demanded
Or Karma will strike with pure vengeance
Especially when you behaved underhanded,
You will certainly serve the full life sentence.

Since the days of Ruth, I have been left
By someone I thought sincerely loved me
My heart was ripped, and I felt utterly bereft
And I recalled how I treated sweet Ruthie.

TENTH PLACE WINNER
Written June 27, 2021
exclusively for "Once More I Failed the Truth" poetry contest
sponsored by Kai Michael Neumann

Please Login to post a comment

Beata Agustin Date: 7/29/2021 12:54:00 AM Congrats! .... I say "Amen" to this. Thanks for sharing, exposing the essence of confession in your awesome poetic style. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/29/2021 8:12:00 AM Thanks, Beata, for your congrats and for your thought comment on my poem.

Paula Goldsmith Date: 7/28/2021 2:34:00 PM Congratulations on your win. Love your "Confession Is Good for the Soul" story/write. Many memories stay with us forever. Sometimes we know when we hurt someone and sometimes we may not. Have a blessed day with your win............... Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/28/2021 3:40:00 PM Well, I sort of snuck in under the wire, didn't I? Thanks so much, Paula, for your sweet comment.

Krish Radhakrishna Date: 7/2/2021 10:49:00 AM Milton this is so sincere and heartfelt! Wonderful write! repentance is a big step towards freedom from guilt. All the best in the contest. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/2/2021 11:05:00 AM Thanks so much, Krish.

Caren Krutsinger Date: 6/30/2021 11:29:00 PM The honesty of this poem made me smile; it is brilliantly honest. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/1/2021 7:28:00 AM Thank you, Caren. I can tell you this, if Ruthie never married, she is the world's oldest living virgin!

Gershon Wolf Date: 6/27/2021 8:32:00 PM I guess you got 'paid forward,' my friend. Happened to me once too. Lesson learned. Nice write! ~ gw Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/27/2021 8:56:00 PM Thanks, gw. Yes, I learned my lesson. And, after all these years, I still think about her. Wonder if she ever got married, etc., etc.

Regina Mcintosh Date: 6/27/2021 6:08:00 PM Oh.. don't we all need to be reminded to always be faithful to the truth... for mine, I wrote about the most important truth, the One who owns my soul... Love your write. God bless you always, friend. Love, Gina Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/27/2021 6:49:00 PM Thanks, Regina. Blessings to you, too.

Maurice Rigoler Date: 6/27/2021 12:59:00 PM Many men and women have sinned in this way. To this late day I get flashbacks at my treachery. But time is a numbing agent. The good that has come of it is that I've never repeated it. BTW, you're the first to know. Mums the word! Good clear writing. / Maurice Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/27/2021 1:04:00 PM Mums the word, Maurice. Like I said, Karma takes care of it.