Naked Truth vs. Lies

In the basement of her mind
lie secrets untold
unable to share
for fear of raising
a hornet's nest
jeopardising
lives of the rest

Her mother had once advised
it's okay to lie
if it serves a good purpose
So, she chose
not to tell her child
her father was alive
what purpose
would it have served
to disclose
he was serving time

Had she confessed
ramifications would have
been different
a child devastated
with the knowledge
she was daughter
of a criminal
once upon a time
in the company
of gun-toting men
parading in a black suit
bowler hat
one would associate
with good breeding,
fine manners
robbing banks
gunning down innocents
for pecuniary gains

The naked truth
would have turned
her life turtle
losing out on school friends
being shamed for no reason

A lie, a mother once uttered,
to protect her child
better off in the know-how
of being fatherless
than being told
he was confined
within prison walls
sentenced to life

Sometimes a lie preferred
dressed in the garb of truth
as unveiling naked truths
could lead
to serious consequences