Gentle Truth wore just the finest, most beautiful dresses
Looking her best for her audience, crippled by blight
Lie, crude and jealous of Truth’s temporary successes
Slyly invited her over to stay for the night
Gullible Truth, full of trust soon relaxed and slept easy
Drooled on her pillow and smiled at her innocent dreams
Cunning Lie took the whole blanket though the night was breezy
Bit into Truth and enjoyed herself fully, it seems
Then she woke up and made Truth’s face the face of a creature
What a plain creature, not worthy of warmth or caress
Now there’s no difference between Lie and Truth, not their features
‘They look the same, feel the same in their state of undress
Lie wove her hair into shiny gold braids, how becoming
Grabbed some of Truth’s clothes without trying on, nice and lush
Took her cash, watch, and her license, and all the while humming
Spit, cursed with feeling and made her way out, in a rush
Only come morning did Truth understand what transpired
Somewhat surprised, looked herself up and down, business like
Who could have done this, who tarred her, the one so desired
Sure she looked dirty, but all in all what’s not to like?
Truth laughed out loud when the stones came from every direction
“This is a lie, and she is out there wearing my clothes”
Two blighted cripples indicted her without reflection
Calling her names and insulting her in plain old prose
Lastly, the indictment said in a most hurtful sentence
(Truth was of course blamed for crimes that she didn’t commit)
“This dirty hag, known as Truth, shows no shame or repentance
She is a penniless whore without merit or wit ”
Truth, naked now, swore to God and swore oaths, crying loudly
Wondered the earth, sickly, hungry and so short of cash
While dirty Lie stole her horse, yea, a thoroughbred, proudly
And rode away on its long skinny legs through the brush
Even today there are some that claim Truth as their mantle
Fighting for Truth though their speeches lack any therein
Pure, honest Truth can of course overcome and dismantle
Lies -- when it does what is needed, what Lie’s done, to win
Often, as you down a shot after shot with your buddies
Where will you spend the next night, how are you getting by
Truth be told some will undress you and rob you, my laddies
Watch as your pants are now worn by a treacherous Lie
Your watch adorns the left hand of a treacherous Lie
Watch as your horse is now ridden by a treacherous Lie
Author notes: this ballad bears such similarity to the story in the contest, I thought it made sense to post the translation here https://allpoetry.com/contest/2784294-Describe-a-Painting the original song by Visotsky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBKqkQ5OB8g russian lyrics https://songpros.ru/3/Vladimir-Vysotskiy/tekst-pesni-Pravda-i-loj
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