Rethinking a White Lie

When younger clients claim they’ve “never been”
to certain places wealthy children go,
I’ve learned to double check with moms and dads
who can’t believe their children don’t recall
quadruple-digit Disney World resorts
and dinners eaten with a giant mouse.
 
This prompts a joke I’ve practiced many times:
“You might as well have taken different trips—
like heading off to France to see the Louvre—
or kept the cash to save for other things
but shown the kids some pics from Photoshop
of days at parks enjoying kiddie rides.”
 
But now I think of haunting causal webs
that link forgotten joys to later selves
and doubt the threads should ever be replaced,
regardless of the skillfulness of lies,
since happy moments’ value goes beyond
the quality of memories that they make.

Paul Burgess

If you have any thoughts about this poem, Paul Burgess   would like to hear them.