Truths Inside A Marsh
by Michael Doyle

The watershed exists as a space of light
That becomes evermore magical at night
As water evaporates into the sky
We sit here watching as the egrets fly

In true swampy marsh, the herons nest
They fly there at night as they come to rest
Here is the home where the crawdads sing
And every mystery is found to bring

When you're in trouble, hide.
Way down deep where the crawdads sing
We can know what rumors confide
Listen for whatever hope they can bring

All we can know of life and death
As the children explore with a loss of breath
We sometimes believe we're invincible
These are the moments that we find incredible

The town folk talk about the truth coming out
But until it does, there is room enough for doubt
Guilt or innocence, it's hard to say
I suppose the jury will determine that one day

When you're in trouble, hide.
Way down deep where the crawdads sing
We can know what rumors confide
Listen for whatever hope they can bring

This may seem a bit heated
But children become as they are treated
If they live without love, they'll retreat into shells
This becomes the truth of their private Hells

Such a child learns not to be seen
There's a need for courage in the hurting things
It's hard to hold to love in life's cruelty
A heart won't last beaten down by brutality

When you're in trouble, hide.
Way down deep where the crawdads sing
We can know what rumors confide
Listen for whatever hope they can bring

(c) March 3, 2025   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved