Consequences of Words–Poem #9

The boy who cried “wolf”–

a parental favored fable

of false alarm consequences.

Lies cannot stand.

“Fire! Fire!” shouted in a theater.

People jump up, run.

They trample each other

as they are injured.

No fire–a lie that causes harm.

“It’s a hoax! No worse than the flu!”

People smile, scoff at masks and science,

spreading the deadly virus.

And the people die alone, desperate and without hope.

A lie that kills.

Words shouted, thrown out in the air

with consequences and reactions.

Lies that lead to disbelief and distrust–

consequences that affect widely and spread.

People cannot believe, are harmed–

people die.

Selah