The Secret Is Out

 

 

The secret is out

But how can this be?

A cursory glance tells me

It is contradictory.

 

The secret is out;

It is closed yet disclosed,

This has to be a faulty caption

Someone chose.

 

However, it is common

For such things to be said

So, can someone please tell me

What to say instead?

 

Here is a secret code

I want to share,

I will put in on the radio

For all to hear.

 

However, it’s confidential,

So, don’t tell anyone

Or you will suffer hardship;

You have been warned.

 

 

The secret is out,

It’s no longer a secret

Yet we do this consistently

Unaware it’s a habit.

 

“I heard something

Which I will share

But you must not tell another,

Do you hear?”

 

I got it from a friend

Who got it from a friend

But when I tell you, promise me

Here is where it ends.

 

 

“In confidence,” we say,

As we constantly convey

Some very important secret

We heard only today.

 

It is still a secret

Even though it is out

And many will still believe it is

Without a doubt.

 

Your secret is out!

It is no longer one,

If more than one knows

Your secret is gone!

 

Stewart Russell © November 9, 2024

 

News We Can’t Trust

 

Hearsay and slander,

Libel and gossip

Are the news we cannot trust-

We need to fix it.

 

A juicy piece of news

Travels like a forest fire

And social media platforms

Are here for the hire.

 

“This is the gospel”

“I know it for sure”

“This is from a reliable source”

But there are more.

 

 

“You must believe me”

“From the horse’s mouth”

News from the east to west

From north to south.

 

News about politicians

And about pastors too,

News about the church-goers

From pulpit to pew.

 

Hearsay and slander

Libel and gossip,

Are the news we cannot trust-

We need to fix it.

 

Had an old pastor

That condemned gossip,

You could not take news to him

Yes, he fixed it.

 

One thing he required

And this before listening

Was for that one to be present

Meaning the victim.

 

If this couldn’t be done

It was simply, “case dismissed”

For he had better things to do,

In fact, a long list.

 

Re news we can’t trust,

We must be very careful

For we often end up hurting

Innocent people.

 

And it is embarrassing

When it is not true

Though from reliable sources

Like me and you.

 

If it is positive news

Then there is no problem

But if they bring the negative

We must reject them.

 

 

 

Hearsay and slander,

Libel and gossip

Are the news we cannot trust-

We need to fix it.

 

It is at every level:

High, medium and low

And if it is generally expected,

You’d hear, “I felt so.”

 

Let’s be more positive

Encourage the unfortunate,

Glorying in one’s misfortune

Is a pathetic mistake.

 

 

And be careful too

With this “in confidence”,

It is often said to titillate

A captive audience.

 

One thing we can try

Is a “don’t need to know”

And be that considerate person

To interrupt the flow.

 

The flow of such news

That we cannot trust

And for that unfortunate one

Causes much fuss.

 

 

 

Hearsay and slander,

Libel and gossip

Are the news we cannot trust-

We need to fix it.

 

Stewart Russell © June 18, 2024

 

 

God Needs No Informants

 

 

I was talking to God

About some things He didn’t know

Or rather He had forgotten,

I prayed like it was so.

 

I told Him about this

And I told Him about that,

Some things I was not sure of

Yet I treated like facts.

 

I made sure God knew

And so, I spelt out every detail,

I was leaving nothing to chance

So, my prayer wouldn’t fail.

 

There were people doing stuff

I thought that God should know

And as His faithful informant

I simply told Him so.

 

I told God about the good

And I told Him about the bad,

I told Him who makes me happy

And who makes me sad.

 

 

I told Him the secrets

About anyone I knew

And I won’t leave you to guess,

I informed Him about you.

 

Things I was told in confidence

I told them to Him,

I even informed Him, my friend,

About your secret sin.

 

To some of you I guess

This might be news to you,

That some would be God-informants

You didn’t have a clue.

 

But God needs no informants

He is all knowing and all wise,

He knows everything about everyone

He sees through our disguise.

 

Don’t cover up your wrong

By telling God about mine,

That may work with your pastor

But not with God anytime.

 

God needs no informants

Please understand this,

And do take note of the pronoun “I”

The “I” tops that list.

 

Stewart Russell © November 26, 2021