truth is a residue
of unfettered habit
it is the tar
that stains
an old man's pipe
it is the soiled collar
of a shirt worn
without washing
truth smells of itself
as hot ash underfoot
truth attracts facts
like a chaste kiss
begets a brat
it is a pauper's soup
of ketchup and hot water
it is the needlestick
of heroin's delight
truth is boiling water
salted and thrown
truth is the cold halo
of nodding off
truth serves only untruth
if it serves at all
truth shines
as the starry sky
of 11 p.m. in July
truth shimmers
as the lake
before the stone skips
truth alights
truth exceeds truth
and all these things are true