Before they put him to rest they sang songs that called him nice.

And celebrated him with accolades.

He was always diplomatic, sweet, careful.

words weighed to balance equations as he spoke.

Angling pictures perfectly on the wall.

But even colorful, flat two-dimensional portraits can only represent depth.

And what is emerging now is no longer nice.

Instead, it speaks as bare honesty.

honesty that will let nothing hide.

honesty of a searing glare.

honesty willing to

sacrifice all because it is all.

Truth will set you free.

It will strip away more than you bargained for.

It will ask everything of you.

It will take everything.

If it did anything less, it would not be truth.