Tainted

She was the purest milk on tongues

when they dipped mouths in painted lies,

spilled her juices to thirsty blowhards,

spread them thickly on tomorrow’s bread.

Sour milk curdled on windy breaths,

a distasteful smell of defamation wafted

on wisps of gossip blathered through town,

a slander poisoning her soul and theirs

in a black defamation of the night.

Story foamed and took new shape,

no one wanted to sample her truths

After all, it must be sincere – surely,

they wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t bona fide.

Her body was found submerged in lake

How could it happen? Why did it happen?

Clotting of the milk of human kindness,

a life sunken by malicious gossip.