The sonnet The Ungodly Practice of Poisoning the Well of Trust with Slanderous Deceit condemns the sinful act of slandering a person’s reputation through lies, likening it to poisoning a communal well of trust. It portrays deceitful words as a destructive force that obscures truth, fosters doubt, and replaces love with scorn. Drawing on Christ’s example, who endured false accusations with grace, the poem urges readers to reject slander, protect the innocent, and uphold truth. It calls for a servant-hearted commitment to speak honestly, ensuring no one’s good name is tainted by malice.

To poison wells of trust with whispered lies,
And taint a soul’s good name with venom’d breath,
Is sin that clouds the heart where honor dies,
And sows a field where only malice wreathes.
A tongue unchecked, with subtle slander’s art,
Can dim the light of truth in others’ eyes.
It builds a cage of doubt to trap the heart,
Where once was love, now scorn and fear arise.

O Christ, whose name was marred by false disdain,
You bore the weight of lies with silent grace.
Your servant love calls us to cleanse the stain,
And guard the pure from slander’s foul embrace.
Beware the tongue that taints the innocent’s fame—
Speak truth, and let no well bear poison’s shame.