unadulterated

i thought i wanted honesty
(until you gave it to me)

then i realized that truth
(the real unvarnished kind)
is all sharp edges like samurai
       swords and whet-stoned
               knives

the cuts are clean
     (but, god, they’re deep)

so the next time i
   desire naked truth

sheath your righteous tongue

soften, whitewash, equivocate

and when i ask if you love me
  (and you say yes)

i can pretend a little longer
  
        that it’s true