“We dance round in a ring and suppose,

But the Secret sits in the middle and knows.”

–Robert Frost

Hi, Everyone!  It’s Merril, come a bit closer–we’re going to share some secrets today. Perhaps you have one you want to tell?

To me winter seems secretive with seeds and bulbs hidden underground, to somehow, almost magically, emerge once spring comes.

Recently, I read Lara Prescott’s The Secrets We Kept, a novel that focuses on the women involved in Cold War politics—secretaries who become spies. It also tells the story of Olga Ivinskaya, who was Boris Pasternak’s lover, and the inspiration for Lara in his novel Doctor Zhivago.  According to the novel, the CIA was involved in smuggling Doctor Zhivago into the Soviet Union. Pasternak was not allowed to publish it there, and the CIA attempts were part of its  effort to use literature as a Cold War weapon.

This made me think a bit more about secrets. Most of us have heard of long-buried family secrets—perhaps in our own families or in those of people we know. We’ve heard of politicians leaving office after a personal secret was exposed. But we like to hear secrets, and the plots of books, plays, and movies often depend on uncovering or exposing a secret.

Do you remember this one?

Apparently, poets also enjoy writing about secrets. This Interesting Literature post covers “the best poems about secrets.”  Well, perhaps until the one you write for this prompt! If you click on the link, you’ll see a range of poems that discuss secrets. You may want to use one of these poems for inspiration.

So, today’s Poetics prompt is simple. Write a poem in any style about secrets, or those who are often told secrets, such as spies, psychologists, priests–or friends. You can also respond to one of the Interesting Literature poems. If you want to be tricky and hide a secret within your poem, that’s OK, too—though I may not notice or find it!

If you are new to dVerse, here’s how to join in:

*Write a poem (in any form) in response to the secrets.

*Please link back to dVerse from your site/blog.

*Enter a link directly to your poem and your name by clicking Mister Linky below–and remember to check the little box to accept the use/privacy policy.

*You will find links to other poets and more will join, so check back later to read their poems.

*Read and comment on other poets’ work–we all come here to have our poems read.

****I have a dentist appointment, and I’m going to be a bit late to the pub, but the door is open, so come on it, and help yourself to a beverage, hot or cold, and I have some fresh-baked cookies, too. Relax and think about. . .secrets.****