In Order To Deceive

Hope had flown away the moment reason had died

Caused by the splinters of regret that were left to rot inside.

Contentment is a myth, it’s an oversubscribed desire,

Causing the splinters of remorse to spit and crackle as if on fire!

Illustrations showed heaven, but the memories were from hell.

Both had pictures and both had stories to tell.

But the images remembered are only ones of tears being cried

Overs the slivers of remorse that were left to smoulder inside.

Recollections of a broken heart followed shouted words of blame.

Driving the splinters of regret deeper inside and causing more pain.

Shattered lives that were ruptured by the choices that were made,

Shaped the splinters of regret that were never allowed to fade.

Are the regrets in your memory planted firmly in your view?

Are they fastened securely, having become a part of you?

What would you give to leave them behind,

As you move through life without remorse in your mind?

What could heal a divide that’s driven wider by remorse?

Will the splinters of regret always stay behind to be a force?

Or could love be the answer as they say love is blind,

Driving all the splinters of regret far away from your mind?

It’s been written that love in harmony is a love that’s divine.

Or is harmony a word you would like to redefine?

Could regrets be lifted and hearts still be joined as two,

If the love that’s being offered is not only vulnerable but true.

Belief is a worry if it withers easily when out of view,

But it dwindles ever faster when I’m away from you.

Your words stay with me, but they’re not the same when we’re apart,

As trust must be equal and you already have all that’s in my heart.

Could love heal the wounds and keep two hearts beating strong,

Ensuring regrets stay away from the places they want to belong?

To ensure that’s possible we must never be alone,

In allowing expectations of belief to arise of hope coming home?

Regrets and remorse are the same and both are in the past.

They are not in the time to come, banish them from the time that’s to last.

Let reason be our voice behind which all can believe,

That remorse is a perception that’s only there to deceive.

About Daniel Kemp

At the age of seventy-six, Daniel Kemp has started his second year of studying the science of Psychology at the Open University. He is a member of The Society of Authors and also a bestselling writer. However, in early September 2025, he was diagnosed with cancer. He is now in palliative care at home, being looked after by his ex-wife. When he was writing his novels, he enjoyed writing stories that appealed to those who liked challenging themselves to solve mysteries that were set out before their eyes, but they couldn't. His introduction to the world of espionage and mystery happened at an early age when his father was employed by the War Office in Whitehall, London, at the end of WWII. However, it wasn’t until after his father died that he showed any interest in anything other than himself! On leaving academia he took on many roles in his working life: a London police officer, mini-cab business owner, pub tenant and licensed London taxi driver, but never did he plan to become a writer. Nevertheless, after a road traffic incident left him suffering from PTSD and effectively—out of paid work for four years, he wrote and self-published his first novel —The Desolate Garden. Within three months of publication, that book was under a paid option to become a $30 million film. The option lasted for six years until distribution became an insurmountable problem for the production company. All ten of his novels are now published by Next Chapter Publishing Company which has added an edition titled The Heirs And Descendants Collection, which holds all four books of that series, alongside an edition titled The Lies And Consequences Collection which contains all four volumes of that series. He is the recipient of rave reviews from a prestigious Manhattan publication and described as—the new Graham Green—by a highly placed executive of Waterstones Books, for whom he did a countrywide tour of book signing events. He has also appeared on 'live' television in the UK publicising his first novel. Less

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2 Responses to In Order To Deceive

robertawrites235681907 says:

August 27, 2023 at 7:37 pm

HI Danny, you always write the most thought provoking poems. This line: It’s been written that love in harmony is a love that’s divine. – particularly interests me. I think that harmony can be a deliberate choice. There is always some discord between people but a choice of harmony without sacrificing your inner self, is always a good one and helps make life a little easier.

Daniel Kemp says:

August 28, 2023 at 12:43 pm

You’re a very intuitive person, Robbie. Thank you for reading it and finding it thought-provoking.