Loyalty v. Trust

Do not confuse us; one of us does not play fair.

Those who seek loyalties are
Those who cannot give it
They are too self-centered.
When the chips are down
They will abandon you
Like a bad habit.

You are last in their caring
You are not in their sharing
Except as someone
To be used abused and then
dropped unceremoniously.

Loyalties are one-way
They are all take and no give
They hold you in such contempt
You are expected to take a bullet meant for bullies
Whether in the ear or in fear.

Loyalty is neither the lemons nor the
Lemonade of life
Both come from the same tree
Not of life but of strife
Of ineptitude and ingratitude
Of contempt and blame.

Trust is given freely
It comes from the good that is in us
A summation of who we are
Why we are and how we are.
It has no price tag
It will not be compromised
nor lost…

But only if it is reciprocated.

Trust is how we cope and why we hope
It is not merely a team player
It is the game and so much more
It is the rules, the sportsmanship
and our expectations all wrapped in
the good that we can do.

Trust shows how much we care
Measured in giving not in taking
We can neither buy it nor take it away
It is our heart, our soul, our honesty
It is caring and sharing.

Trust is the glue of friendships
One answer to sorrows
It can neither be lent nor borrowed...
Trust is the salvation of our souls.