Our shredder broke down
Just as the world was doing the same
During the last year
The most stressful year of our privileged lives
Secrets built up in a shoebox
Secret numbers, secret checks, even secret plastics
We had no way to destroy them
And money seemed so very precious at the time
This afternoon I burned them all
In the backyard of the house we, and the bank, now own
Raking coals over secrets
Spring sunshine raining down upon us from above
Half a vaccine in my arm
Is it a purge, a cleansing, or a simple ritual
To stand outside in the light
Burning to ash secrets that could hurt us both
In the wrong hands
Ashes borne high on springtime wings
I look at the embers, smile
We have survived; we have survived; we have survived

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