So you think that you know me, Oh my! How untrue ,
You only know, what I’m allowing you to.
You don’t know my ambitions; you can’t read my mind,
To my needs and desires you’re practically blind.

Ok, so you know I prefer lager over bitter or stout,
Have a fondness for snooker and darts, I’ve no doubt.
You’d say, I’d not rob my neighbour nor lay a friend low,
You’d swear that on the bible, but how do you know.

I could be a rapist or serial killer next door,
Don’t worry, I’m not, but how can you be sure.
And it isn’t just me, we’re each of us the same,
All just know as the person that we choose to portray.

I once had a friend, who’d been married for years,
Had three beautiful children and a promising career,
His wife was contented, even happy, I’d say,
Until she suddenly announced to the world, she was gay,

Well he couldn’t believe it; he had had no idea,
Even though they’d been married for about twenty years,
Another friend’s brother was criminally accused,
By his teenage stepdaughter who’d been sexually abused.

Was my friend’s brother guilty? Who can decide?
It did not go to trial because he chose suicide,
And my fiend and his family are stunned to this day,
And if you ask, “was he guilty?” they’ll answer, “No way”,

But no-one can be certain, some still have their doubts,
And that is exactly what I’m talking about,
You may think that you know me, or anyone else,
You may think that you know us like you know yourself.

But how can you really? The truth is, you don’t,
You may think they’ll never surprise you, and maybe they won’t,
But we all have our own personal monsters inside,
Just press the right buttons and see what you find.

A liar, a gambler, a cheater, a thief,
Go on scratch the surface and see what’s underneath,
It may be your best friend, your wife, daughter or son,
But nobody really knows anyone.

By
S.E.Ralph

7-2-2017