Joyanna Adams

The Secrets We All Hold

I was reading in the book The Great Thoughts today, and came upon this bit written in The Buried Life (1852) It was written by an English poet named Matthew Arnold, and I thought on it all day:

Here it is:

*****

—Alas, is even Love too weak

To unlock the heart, and let it speak?

Are even lovers powerless to reveal

To one another what indeed they feel?

I knew the mass of men conceal’d

Their thoughts, for fear that if reveal’d

They would by other men be met

With blank indifference, or with blame reprov’d:

I knew they liv’d and mov’d

Trick’d in disguises, alien to the rest

Of men, and alien to themselves—and yet

The same heart beats in every human breast.

*****

Tell me, how many people actually reveal their deepest secrets?

Men, women? Governments? Children? Think of it.

Not many.

I thought about this all day, and sadly, it’s true. If another man can destroy you with the secret that you told him, or woman, the temptation is just too strong.

Probably that’s why the concept of sin is so strong. Even animals rebel when they are wronged.

I was watching my parakeets today. One female was so upset, because I had let the other five parakeets into her cage to have fun. She attacked another female, and was trying to tell me about it in her own way. When I separated them all, she felt safe again.

It was obvious to anyone watching, how upset she was.

How many times during the day do WE get upset, feel slighted, and yet, dare not tell a soul?

And now, there is fear of the mass public ridiculed if you even say “there are only two sexes.” They come after you with pickforks as sharp as knives.

So, you keep your secrets close to your heart. Even from your lovers.

I think, everyone does this…

Is it a good thing? It’s a survival thing. But is it a good thing?

Nobody Knows.

December 27, 2022 - Posted by Joyanna Adams | Uncategorized