She showed up on my doorstep
Looking all of five,
With tears stains streaking down her cheeks.
She wasn't mad at me,
Although I've given her bad advice.
But her heart was broken,
And mine was too.
We stood face-to-face
And knew it was a matter of time,
And time alone would tell.

But we knew then that the only things worth knowing
Are things that nothing but time can tell.
For some things are better left unspoken,
And some things, as Nietzsche said,
Die as soon as they are named,
Or, at least, some shadow of the thing
Winds up dead like a little present
A cat might bring
And drop
There at your doorstep.

-jenn