Keeping Secrets

I have a big mouth. Not literally, though. As a kid I had to visit the dentist frequently so he could find creative ways to make room for all of my teeth. He told my folks my mouth was too small, to which they replied, “Hahaha!!” for days. Every time the story was retold to family and friends they laughed like it was the funniest story ever told.

We didn’t have oodles of money back then, and no dental insurance, so braces were out of the question. Our dentist, Dr. Craig, bless his heart, worked to strategically pull several of my permanent teeth so that my teeth weren’t too crooked. He was almost successful, but later in life I had some work done to correct what I thought of as my vampire teeth. Dr. Craig would have approved, I think.

Mine weren’t quite this bad, but you get the picture:

Back to my big mouth, which by now you should know is figurative rather than literal. I positively can not keep a secret. Not a fun one anyway. I can keep your “I can’t stand my boss and have been interviewing for new jobs” secret. I can keep your, “I’ve won the lottery and am not telling anyone other than you until I’ve seen an attorney” secret. But I cannot keep the “We’re having a surprise party for someone and you absolutely can’t leak the news!”

I have one of those fun secrets right now, and if the person the secret is for hasn’t totally figured it out yet it is a miracle. I don’t give hints–it’s just that I’ll say things like, “When we see A_____ in a few days….” and then I panic because I remember he doesn’t know A____ is coming, so I have to say, “I keep forgetting A_____ isn’t going to be there.” Then I act all upset so he’ll think I’m losing my mind a little. Heh. I’m not sure it’s an act anymore.

I must hold myself together through next Wednesday when all will be revealed. It’s too bad I can’t see a dentist to help me through this problem with my mouth.

Peace, people.

Common Knowledge

Everybody knows
They whisper behind closed doors
Your secret is out


How will you respond
Held head high or bowed in shame
The power is yours


Laugh and make merry
Celebrate indiscretions
Make people wonder

Woman

Maker of the bed
Keeper of stolen secrets
Woman of few regrets.


In the wee small hours,
Clichèd as it might appear
Her conscience is clear.


Affairs in order
Assignations underway
She sleeps, unconcerned.

Secrets

Whispered words of love
Skipping through the universe
Reverberating.


Fingers fumbling,
Tangled in accoutrement
Hooks on lingerie.


Overwhelming heat
Lingering touch, here, just here
Words insuffcient.

Secrets

Photo by Ginna Greig Hall

Softly lies the mist
soothing mirrored surfaces
silent secrets kept

Don’t Tell Me

Don’t tell me your

Secrets.

I have plenty of my own.

Don’t tell me your

Rules

I’ll just break them.

Don’t tell me your

Fears

Lest they trigger mine.

Don’t tell me you’re

Sorry

Unless you truly are.