“The Truth Will Come Out”. The Golden Girls, 1985

“The Truth Will Come Out”

The Golden Girls, 1985

Tess Liem

Tess Liem’s debut collection of poetry, Obits., was shortlisted for the 2019 Lambda Literary award. Her writing has appeared in Plenitude, The Puritan, Cosmonauts Avenue, and elsewhere. She lives in Montreal: Tio’tia:ke/Mooniyaang, unceded Haudenosaunee and Anishinabe territories.


 
 

i.
You       travelled              your heart

here

                     heavy

and                                     outrageous

       Look at this         guilt 

               clutching            the scene

Look at this

Ma,        we can’t be moved

 
 

ii.
Of course the rumour is    you know     well

               Ma, we were the subject

 
 

iii.
                            Secrets? No

a small remembrance

                     joy or pleasure

       I hereby bequeath       my diamond brooch         my brief moment

No, not yet

Wait for the silk   lace        sequined     statement

 
 

iv.
Granddaughter    , listen

We have no secrets

              Daughter

it’s more than that

                     Daughter      ? She ought to be       the         evidence!

       The more damning evidence

Here we are!        This is home!

It’s just a will

Ma, please.          It was           true.

 
 

v.
I remember

coffee

Honey

Brussel sprouts

I should explain

       perfectly

my sapphire necklace

the pearl earrings

the numbers

              How it happened

 
 

vi.

Believe         daughter

Never lie              still!

 

A lie is a lie, which is               business

 
 

vii.
Ma,

What’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told?

       Complexion

 
 

viii.
Come on, Ma.

Your whole life is an open blouse

Ma,

       you’re awake!

       you’re awake!

       Forgive yourself

 
 

ix.
Exhausted.

sleep.

              liar.

                     liars.

 
 

x.
A lie is         one         tomorrow

              granddaughter

But        tomorrow,

              no matter how much it might hurt all of us

              sleep well,           I’ll see you in the morning

                                          I love you.

 
 

xi.
              Whoever said             Not now

              here

I want you all to hear this.

              I guess maybe I was afraid.

That’s the big secret.

       And        isn’t it amazing

You’re not at the bottom of a lake.

 
 

Pour citer cette page

Tess Liem, « “The Truth Will Come Out”. The Golden Girls, 1985 », MuseMedusa, no 7, 2019, <> (Page consultée le ).


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