No Truth

 

 

Some believe the only truth

Is that there is no truth

And that for them, they also say,

Is the only absolute.

 

Of this, they are sure

That there is no absolute truth

Except of course, this absolute truth

And, therein is their proof.

 

So for every rule, they also say,

There is at least one exception.

Is this true? I would ask,

Of just a generalization?

 

Is a generalization a truth

Or just a mere existing fact?

If a generalization is a truth,

How can we have that?

 

Is truth and fact one and alike?

That’s the timely question,

Would the answer be absolute

Or only an impression?

 

Nothing but the truth, he swore,

 But it he couldn’t tell,

Anything he said, would be lies

He knew that quite well.

 

There can be no justice

If there is no truth,

No kind of evidence

Could be offered as proof.

 

Hence the “F” is missing

From the Law

And what we now have

Is the “Flaw”.

 

 

Hence the missteps!

Since there is no absolute truth

It’s the “Flaw” that guides

And no such thing as proof.

 

Trapped is the spider

In its own web

And the fly, this time,

Will be sumptuously fed.

 

How things turn around

When there is no truth!

You don’t have to look far

To find the proof.

 

 

Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880)

 

Stewart Russell © October 2019