Hiss de Secret

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.