At the heart of
his misdirection
lies the cold reality
he fears.

Bundled in blankets
of bravado,
he attempts to
deceive his peers.

His lies, crafted artfully,
may engender
hatred,
even compassion;

But his habit of
self-aggrandizement
can rapidly take him
out of fashion.

Anger, vitriol,
may be tempting
responses to his
prevaricating persistence;

Or, most deadly and cold,
the choice to merely
ignore him right
out of existence.