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Open Poetry #46
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Secret Untold
| Open Poetry #46 |
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Secret Untold |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America 
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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 |
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| © Copyright 2010 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
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. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
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 |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
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 |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
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 |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
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." |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
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 |
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Amaryllis Senior Member
since 2010-05-20
Posts 1306Mi now |
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 |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
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 |
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Klassy Lassy Member Elite
since 2005-06-28
Posts 2187Oregon |
This is a very powerful write, Jerry. Secrets and self condemnation seem to go hand in hand, and so it goes... |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
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 |
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Dark Stranger Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631West Coast |
they say god knows the heart so secrets are told no matter what? cool stuff JP |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
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 |
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s1nfully_1nn0c3nt Senior Member
since 2003-10-26
Posts 1105Watertown, NY |
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. |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
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 |
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
This is a very powerful piece Jerry and I understand it much too well. Very well done! Lori |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
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 |
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