Tell the birds a secret—
they may carry it into the sky,
but never will you hear it
from another bird.
Tell the dog a secret—
he may run off with it,
yet only to guide it
to its death.
Tell the cat a secret—
she will meow it to herself,
never divulging,
not even to the rat.
But tell a snake in man’s form—
he will not cease hissing
until the secret spreads
like a wild fire.