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JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

0 posted 2010-12-29 08:20 PM


What's a secret if not told
Until you grow old and cold
And in your death rattle
Try to tell but lose the battle.

It's a secret kept for secret's sake
To be honored for trust not to break
It's buried deep within your core
It's about someone you know, for sure.

A risqué skeleton in the cupboard
Is the tale you miserly hoard
So black and distasteful it is
No one could guess it in a quiz.

Locked inside of your dark gloom
It festers and grows within its tomb
Struggling for release, to be unbound
To spread its malice all over town.

It's been so long, this story you hold
Illegally, even if it were told
The shocked looks of concerned faces
Might still be found but only in traces.

He looked into his dear wife's eyes
Wondering if it would be a great surprise
That after all these many, many years
Would telling her be so very severe?

He sighed and stared across the street
At Fred and Ethel's house of concrete
Wondering if they'd still be his friends
Would telling the secret be the end?

In the actual day to day living of life
The secret caused him untold strife
Where he knew for a natural fact
Nothing was real it was all abstract.

It came to pass one bring sunny day
What he hadn't told was making him pay
In sadness indescribable for what he knew
It was like a cancer inside his brain it grew.

It caused him to be strict, to toe the mark
He almost screamed it out at the ballpark
Needing to loose the hellfire within
Said nothing, just cheered his team to win.

He lived his whole life without satisfaction
Wondered what would be people's reaction
Even his wife told everyone he was mad
He wanted to say that he was just sad.

Of living a life and carrying the load
Of forgotten sins and mislaid woes
But something kept it all bottled up
Even when he drank from whisky's cup.

Now, though, the priest is leaning close
Giving absolution, has hairs up his nose
Pulling the priest near his lips
Told the secret, the priest his wrist did grip.

The old one watched the very young vicar
As his face frowned and his eyes flickered
He died smiling, the secret passed on
Knowing the priest was the secret's next pawn.

To mimic is a form of praise unless
you have no thoughts of your own

© Copyright 2010 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
1 posted 2010-12-29 08:23 PM


I am the beholder of such secrets...
and have been for many years.

It's a wonder I can still stand straight...

and oh how I understand the pain!



Thank you for sharing.


latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
2 posted 2010-12-29 08:41 PM


Unkept secrets are secrets told. But is the release of knowing worth another ones fold?

I am sure we all harbor secrets bold
It releases the speaker but keeps us on hold.
latearrival

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
3 posted 2010-12-29 08:41 PM


It is a hurtful experience for sure to harbor something within, and thinking, or knowing it is not in anyone's best interest to tell this secret. Thank you, Sunshine.

To mimic is a form of praise unless
you have no thoughts of your own

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
4 posted 2010-12-29 08:48 PM


There is a way to keep secrets secure.
Keep yourself busy, or join the Peace Corps.

The harboring of secrets self contained,
Can eventually drive you insane.

Thanks, latearrival, for your input.

To mimic is a form of praise unless
you have no thoughts of your own

Andrew Scott
Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558
Redlands,CA,USA
5 posted 2010-12-29 10:48 PM


A very interesting and powerful write. I thoroughly enjoyed the way you ended this piece. Quality in content and style. Peace.

"We'll chase them like rats across the tundra."

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
6 posted 2010-12-29 10:52 PM


Thanks, Andrew. A secret untold is a secret untold. There has to be a novel here somewhere. It just dawned on me. Wouldn't be all that original, but . . .

Anyway, thanks again.

To mimic is a form of praise unless
you have no thoughts of your own

Amaryllis
Senior Member
since 2010-05-20
Posts 1306
Mi now
7 posted 2010-12-29 10:57 PM


Hi Jerry~

I understand this. It`s a catch 22... to harbor the secret poisons within, yet to tell spreads the poison without, perhaps burdening an innocent...sigh. There is no easy answer.  Fine writing!

Amaryllis

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
8 posted 2010-12-29 11:02 PM


Yep, you are right about the Catch-22 situation with the untold secret, Amaryllis. A secret so profound that the bearer of it cannot tell it, although he would dearly like to if only to give him peace of mind and a good night's sleep.

Thank you for your input, I so appreciate it.

To mimic is a form of praise unless
you have no thoughts of your own

Klassy Lassy
Member Elite
since 2005-06-28
Posts 2187
Oregon
9 posted 2010-12-30 12:39 PM


This is a very powerful write, Jerry.  Secrets and self condemnation seem to go hand in hand, and so it goes...
JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
10 posted 2010-12-30 06:40 AM


I agree, Klassy Lassy, secrets can undermine a person and borders on giving them inferiority complexes I believe.

To mimic is a form of praise unless
you have no thoughts of your own

Dark Stranger
Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631
West Coast
11 posted 2010-12-30 08:04 AM


they say god knows the heart so secrets are told no matter what?  cool stuff JP
JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
12 posted 2010-12-30 08:19 AM


I would say that these secrets that God knows about are "lifted" rather than "told," daark. Same difference, different wording.

Thank you for stopping by and commenting.

To mimic is a form of praise unless
you have no thoughts of your own

s1nfully_1nn0c3nt
Senior Member
since 2003-10-26
Posts 1105
Watertown, NY
13 posted 2010-12-30 09:27 AM


Ah, I know the kind of secrets you speak of, the ones that would destroy. It is indeed, a heavy load to bear. Enjoyed.

-Trina.

When you decide to walk away- walk away.  Don't look back, In that moment you'll lose trust and faith- in yourself.

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
14 posted 2010-12-30 09:52 AM


Good to see you again, Trina. thank you for commenting and for the fact that you understand about secrets.

To mimic is a form of praise unless
you have no thoughts of your own

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere
15 posted 2010-12-30 10:53 AM


This is a very powerful piece Jerry and I understand it much too well.  Very well done!
Lori

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
16 posted 2010-12-30 11:09 AM


Hi Lori, we have to stop meeting like this.

Thanks for the comment. My thoughts are exploding as I am getting a germ of an idea about turning this into a novel. We'll see. thanks again.

To mimic is a form of praise unless
you have no thoughts of your own

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