most people
do not want to hear about
views different from their own

so
though you may think otherwise
if you want something from them
   love, attention, business, money, ***
you tell them what they like to hear
to fill their needs
to please

yet
after a while
you recognize
that with each time
you cater to the needs of others
you give away
a part of your integrity
and that you better
   watch out carefully
lest you become merely
the sum
of their reflected selves

           * *