Brand New Friends

Brand New Friends

 

“Ahi Genovesi, uomini diversi

D’ogne costume e pien d’ogni magagna,

Perché non siete voi del mondo spersi?”

 

—Inferno 33.

 

The traitor’s hanging out with brand new friends.

Oh, what a thrilling time they’ll have today!

The sheer delight of lying never ends

As they elaborate, as they betray

The values that they once put on display.

Forbidding truth grows shapely once it bends.

It shakes its ass until they shout hurray.

It ceases being truth – but that offends

No one, and no one has to make amends.

They look hard – and find beauty in the gray

Where black and white are lost.  The soul descends—

But feels it’s getting higher all the way.

This hell is heaven, each soul comprehends,

As long as there are lots of lying friends.

 

–Tom Riley