Relative Truth

 

 

If all truth is relative

Then this cannot be true

And so, relative to what, I ask,

And, wouldn’t you?

 

For anything to be true

There must be truth

And the mere fact I am typing

Must be essential proof.

 

But ignoramuses say

There is no absolute truth,

If this, in fact, is accurate,

Here is more proof.

 

If one says I only tell lies

Would you believe him?

I would like to say if you did

You’d be rather dim.

 

 

For that in itself

Would have to be also false

Somewhat like one dancing

To a two-four waltz.

 

 

If all truth is relative

Relative has to be true,

That to me is as clear as today,

Isn’t it to you?

 

Relative is high sounding

When used along with truth

But it makes as much sense to me

As talking to a goose.

 

 

Where the goose plainly is

The propagator of such a lie,

Why on earth would I believe it?

Pray, can you tell me why?

 

Understand this, though,

This is how the scholastic think,

Not all of them, if you please,

Not all are over the brink.

 

Relative truth is folly

And defeats its very own claim

And if you seriously believe it

You must be insane.

 

It is like climbing a ladder

Where the bottom is the top

And when you get to the bottom

Then you suddenly drop.

 

 

If you said, “Nonsense!”

Then you get what I mean,

Unlike the relative-truth scholars

We can be a team.

 

All truth is relative!

I ask, is relative to what?

If you cannot tell me to what,

It’s time that you stop.

 

Stop believing in a lie

That can never ever be true

For you will never convince me

Or even you.

 

Stewart Russell © October 22, 2023

 

Delusions of Grandeur

 

 

Take a good at the title

Does anything come to mind?

Of perhaps a place or a person

Especially in these times?

 

Delusions of grandeur!

I’m sure you’ve heard the term:

Some idea, opinion or proposal

Rather difficult to affirm.

 

A party comes to mind:

A certain political party, I mean,

Having fallen from its lofty height

Is now a real “has been”.

 

 

Yet trying to convince us

They are a viable alternative

To the party that is now in power

That's relatively ineffective.

 

Delusions of grandeur!

If you see what I mean,

Unable to manage internal conflict

But can handle a bigger scene.

 

Unable to climb a hill

But a mountain will attempt,

Such looney, delusional endeavours

One must stoutly resent.

 

Get your act together

I would most definitely advise

For managing a country is serious

And not about silly asides.

 

Surely, it’s not about egos

Punctuated with regular outbursts

Where allies are sworn enemies

And with foes are immersed.

 

It is also the Government

That is in need of help

With astronomical projections

But clearly out of step.

 

 

Digging a hole to get out

But only going farther in

Such as sourcing money to pay loans

By excessive borrowing.

 

Hoping the tourist dollar

Would get us out of trouble

But ignoramus, partisan supporters

Afraid to burst their bubble.

 

Engaging multiple reforms

So that we can become a republic

But becoming a republic even before

Was a cleverly crafted trick.

 

It is like winning the race

With the race yet to be run

And having also collected the trophy,

The organizers must be dumb!

 

Delusions of grandeur!

The opium of the electorate

Who actually feel that since 2018

We are in a better state.

 

We are now among the stars

And shining just as bright

Though we’re just a satellite for others

And their fire we light.

 

Delusions of grandeur!

We shall soar once the PM flies,

Her recognition will be ours as well

And her highs will be our highs.

 

To be first class by 2030

With little right now to show,

Surely this is a delusion of grandeur-

And I know that you know.

 

Talk doesn’t an economy grow

Or fuel from a politician flow,

If such were the case all would be well

And Bim would grow and glow.

 

Finally, to the church

With its delusions of grandeur,

Promising miraculous breakthrough

But saints continue to flounder.

 

Prayer sessions on the increase,

And prayer warriors too,

A clear case of delusions of grandeur

With little or no breakthrough.

 

 

 

Miracles that never took place

That recipients dubiously claimed,

Some condition for the moment gone

Which the recipients feigned.

 

But back again the morrow

Or with a few days having passed

Or, as the placebo effect wore off,

The miracle did not last.

 

Deluged by delusions

Parties, Parliament, parishioners,

But putting one’s faith in Jesus Christ

Is not a delusion of grandeur.

 

Stewart Russell © May 20, 2024