a lie told often enough

He was a clever man
and she was a wise woman
they saw that
it looked like a good thing to do
they didn't believe in the new god
but they saw that it was good to socialize
to be accepted, on equal footing
to have help when they needed
to sing songs, to celebrate together

we will learn the ways of the world,
they said
but we will not change our heart and soul

but their children grew up
with the new songs
in their heart and soul
along with the old
you almost couldn't tell
which was which
the lie told often enough
had become a half truth
even though it was told
without much conviction

and their children
were born with
most of a new heart and soul
and their truth
had all their soul's conviction

and by then it was too late
to save their old soul

it was gone, forever