David always told the truth to me

and, of course, we argued endlessly

about what, exactly, was 'true':

both working class self-taught autodidacts,

what would you expect us to do?

I continued to learn a lot from David's poetry too

Until his mighty verses were expunged from view.

David told me the precise name and location

Of a church in ancient Antioch,

In war-torn Syria - desecrated by men

Who brooked no debate over 'truth'.

Authoritarians come in many shapes and sizes,

take on a plethora of disguises,

but only have one tale to tell:

If you don't agree. Off to hell!