hidden

why am i afraid to let go of my secret?

to release it into the world,

like a lantern

composed of

crepe paper

and

flickering flame

why do i let it sit in the corner

and as it gathers dust

and cracks under

the weight of the

darkness

i pretend that

it doesn't exist

and never will

i know

that it is not terrible

almost like a

faded star

or a

lost penny

yet it

remains

alone