Marshmallows and Lies
/A coworker has told me
that I am too honest.
This only serves to prove
I am a much better liar
than I am given credit for.
When I told the fire chief
our fire pit is at least twenty-five feet from the house,
I didn't mean my house.
I stop at the fire house every January
for another year's permit.
They have never before asked me this question.
I am wishing they hadn't this time.
I have never measured, but I don't need to.
It is maybe eighteen, at the most.
Certainly closer than regulation allows.
Otherwise it would have to be
in the middle of the garden
or under the large maple.
They wouldn't have liked that either.
Had I been honest,
they would likely have denied my request.
Had I been honest,
my coworker would think me a liar.
I am going to have a fire this year
roast marshmallows and warm my toes.
That's a lie.
I don't like marshmallows.
I know I will have the fire and still feel badly
about those last seven feet of untruth.
By Christopher Clauss
From: United States
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/christopherclausspoet/home
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