The Lie by Valerie Parente

The problem was never the lie
the problem was how easy it was to believe the lie.
It’s a travesty
the way they mold our minds
like clay or paper mâché
they shape our brains
but when we realize we’ve been used
we can begin to dissolve the ruse.

The lie says more about the fragility of our minds
than it does about the content it transcribes
and the truth in that realization
can set us free from exploitation.

– Valerie Parente (6-14-2026)