no more secrets

this has been done we thought and took our rest

but did not know that the river still rose

that much occurred our peace to discompose

as angry birds moved through the sky with zest

proclaiming loudly in voices unblessed

so much we did not want then to disclose

we could not blink so then we came to blows

having no choice but lie and jape and jest

into the air smoky and dull with grief

the many dead proclaim how we have failed

their silent word enough to mark our end

for even though this time we claim relief

will soon arrive all see the ship has sailed

even a fool plain death can comprehend

subtropic

look down on misty clouds close to the shore

where mystery proclaims that nothing's clear

though past the age where monsters might appear

you aren't yet sure you truly know the score

what might crawl out and scare you to the core

or fall quite quickly from the cloudy air

and steal your heart before you are aware

you cannot tell you have not passed the door

now in this region there are laughing folk

whose task has been to load your head with words

apotropaic and triumphant both

enough to tell the horror from the joke

or scare the rats and the small hungry birds

away from plants that need their urgent growth