T’Was A Family Secret

T’was a family secret it was true

And that meant no one knew

 

So she only told her mother

Who swore to tell no other 

 

Of course she also told her sister

And her husband when he kissed her

 

This was by no means spilling the beans

After all these were not just gossiping teens

 

They were family members of discretion and high station

Who cared much about their reputation 

 

For holding very confidential

Matters that were consequential

 

So the matter stayed well hidden

Till the words popped out unbidden

 

When her mother told her best friends

But that was where it surely ends

 

Because as I have previously mentioned

This was a secret well intentioned

 

But somehow those in the know expanded

And as I relate this to you I am trying to be evenhanded

 

I say this because Grandma, who was much older

Knew all about it though no one would admit to having told her

 

So by now the circle of those with title of insider

Had grown quite a bit and indeed was much wider

 

Those who told me I cannot recall

It was more than one but less than all

 

Each time I was admonished not to tell a soul

For strict confidentiality was the goal

 

I said not a word but found it so funny

That I admit I finally told my honey

 

She laughed because she already knew

And I found myself chagrined too 

 

At last the matter was publicly revealed

And with (feigned?) surprise and delight the whole family squealed 

 

Winking and nodding without the slightest of guile

There was joy in already knowing and all had a smile

 

In the end not a single person had been left out

They were all in the know without a doubt 

 

Proud they were of their decorum

They had it kept it within such a small forum

 

After all t’was a secret it was true

And that meant no one knew