Your Secret

I walked out on a Winter night
 A bundle tucked beneath my arm
 A debt to be forgiven
 I turned up 14th Street and Pine
 Above the distant traffic's roar
 Reached a crest and dropped my bag
 I won't be your secret anymore
 I lit a fire on the hill
 Winter snow had drifted high
 Watched the smoke from letters spill
 Into the ink-black midnight sky
 Your words were mingled with the stars
 Every line you wrote that I adored
 Time has come for this to end
 I won't be your secret anymore
 I next threw on the things you gave
 All of those well thought out gifts
 They were enfolded in the blaze
 They turned to smoke and up they drift
 Photographs and poetry
 Those chimes I hung outside my door
 Reduced to ashen memory
 I won't be your secret anymore
 I stayed until the fire died
 That was shortly after sunrise
 I tried to burn the memories
 But they still smoldered deep inside
 Slaves, they say, revere their chains
 Prisoners fear the open door
 I'll hope someday that I'll be free
 I won't be your secret anymore