Inspired by a short piece by Samuel Butler in the Penguin Book of Lies. A rich source of inspiration!

Cherry picking the words of god
to suit man’s selfish needs;
The lowest forms twist their meaning
until the lie succeeds;

Imitators of good virtue
are such great pretenders;
The sweetest mouth is shameful with
every lie it renders;

As it passes into the ears,
the falsehood becomes true;
Before we die, the moral dirt
must be ingested too.