Pendulum

There was a time, not long ago,
when handshakes sealed the deal.
A promise made was always kept,
no truth could be repealed
to hid deceit and lies.

There was a day when honesty
was held in high regard,
and those who helped a fellow man
received their due reward
from friend and foe alike.

I fear that honor has been lost,
good manners compromised,
and in this day of spite and rage,
we've all but closed our eyes
to calculated lies.

Perhaps that pendulum will swing
back toward civility,
and we'll recall the value of
good will, integrity
before the hour is struck.

May all our hopes for charity
and all our finest dreams
grow in the soil of human worth,
find water from the stream
that flows for all to share.