Originally published in 2022. Republished in 2025. Original reader comments have been preserved and may refer to an earlier version of this piece.
The lies you told poetry prompt by T.C. Elliott (@tcelliott) on Pinterest from his April 2020 (almost) Daily Writing Prompt.
The Lies You Told
The Lies You Told explores the burden of lies, facing imperfections, and the resilience to rise and find personal truth amidst pain.
the lies you told weigh heavily on my chest
constricting and binding everything within
I often wonder why you still believe these lies as your truths
expecting me to look through the mirror and see nothing wrong
constricting and binding everything within me
sinking me deeper and deeper into nothingness
expecting me to look through the mirror and see nothing wrong
look past the faults and your wrongs and see perfection
sinking me deeper and deeper into nothingness
somehow, I’m still able to breathe
look past the faults and your wrongs and see perfection
a perfect person
somehow, I’m still able to breathe
and be able to be reborn as the phoenix I am
a perfect person
with faults and imperfections
and be able to be reborn as the phoenix I am
expecting me to look through the mirror and see nothing wrong
but faults and imperfections
the lies you told weigh heavily on my chest
-Primrose Morrison
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With love and a little ink,
Primrose.
Last Updated on 10/12/2026 by Primrose
Seems like you have somebody you’re mad at. Hopefully a one-off thing. My ex-friend Rob used to write the majority of his poetry about an ex-wife he could never please. It’s sad when we get stuck in these loops forever. Hopefully you’re through that. I used to be pretty critical during my marriage. After my marriage I’ve only had one long-term relationship. I wasn’t critical at all. But it’s sad to reflect on the damage that I did when I was so critical. I mean, I still make judgments, but I’m more sensitive to people. At least those I talk to. Those who read my stuff on the net, talking to everyone and no one, with no filter, you would be challenged to think of me as couth in any way. But I’ve toned down my judgment and express it less in actual context with people.