SWEET LIES AND BITTER TRUTHS

 What’s praise but poison in a velvet cup?

A sweetened mask that lifts you high,

Yet whispers low of your demise.

A serpent’s grin, a dagger’s kiss,

With honeyed words, they weave a snare,

Like Icarus, you soar, yet fear the fall,

For envy flies on waxen wings.

They cheer your rise with silent schemes,

Admiration cloaks betrayal’s sting,

In shadows deep, their true hearts lie.

To flatter is to twist the knife,

A smile that hides a bitter bite.

“Great job!” they sing, yet eye your fall,

With daggers drawn, they laugh in glee.

Their praise, a dance of sweet deceit,

Like Brutus’ blade in Caesar’s back,

A double-edged sword of words,

Where flattery feeds the hungry ghost,

In every cheer, a lurking doubt,

The jesters play, while truth’s unbound.

Each compliment, a spider’s thread,

Spun to catch the unwary soul.

Their laughter echoes, rich with spite,

As masks disguise the bitter truth.

To rise invites their venomous glare,

To shine brings forth their hidden bile,

A stage where envy plays its part,

Like Macbeth, who danced with dark delight,

Their praise a riddle, cruelly spun,

In shadows thick, the game’s begun.

So let them cheer, let them conspire,

Their honeyed words, a thin disguise.

What’s flattery but a jester’s art?

A cloak of charm that hides the lies.

For every rose, a thorn awaits,

To envy is to taste despair,

Admire they might, but fangs will show,

Their sweet refrain conceals the fight,

In laughter’s echo, sorrow’s thread,

Their hearts are bound in silent dread.

Dr. A. Arun Daves

Email: dave.aad1987@gmail.com

Bio–Note:

Dr. A. Arun Daves is a highly accomplished scholar and educator holding a Ph.D. in English from Annamalai University and an M.Phil. in English from PRIST University. His academic journey includes an M.A. in English from St. Joseph’s College of Arts & Science, Cuddalore, where he was awarded a Gold Medal, as well as a B.A. in English from the same institution. He also has an additional Master’s degree in Linguistics from Annamalai University. Since 2013, he has been serving as an Assistant Professor of English at Jawahar Science College, Neyveli. Dr. Daves is a prolific writer and researcher, with 23 published articles in esteemed international journals and over 30 articles and book chapters reviewed. His literary talents extend to poetry, short stories, and book reviews, showcasing his multifaceted expertise in the realms of English language and literature.