I am looking for a poem that I remember hearing casualy on the radio
and didn't catch its name or author.  All that sticks in my mind is a
phrase that went along the lines of having a box of secrets (under the
bed?) and them being shown one by one, but if the other person laughs
then they will be locked away.

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Request for Question Clarification by markj-ga on 03 Oct 2004 11:13 PDT

dave1966uk -

Approximately when did you hear the poem?

Did you hear it in the U.S.?

On a noncommercial public radio station?

markj-ga

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Clarification of Question by dave1966uk-ga on 03 Oct 2004 11:23 PDT

Not so easy to answer as I station hop something awful!  Suspect it
was either BBC Radio 4 (a talk station here in the UK) or BBC World
Service.  Both non-commercial.  Not heard it recently - suspect it was
3 or 4 years ago I heard it last.  Don't think I have ever heard it in
full as I seem to "drop in" on it, but remember the section about a
box of secrets which I have heard a few times.  It stuck with me and
I'm curious.

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Clarification of Question by dave1966uk-ga on 03 Oct 2004 11:51 PDT

In trying to rack my few remaining grey cells I am wondering whether
it was a box of treasures - so long ago when I heard it last.

I am certain that the poem you're seeking is "Poem for Everyman", by John Wood.

You can read the complete poem here (scroll down):

Oklahoma State University: University Counseling Services 
http://www.okstate.edu/ucs/poems.htm

Or here (at the bottom of the page):

The Electronic Face of Dave Droar
http://www.arrod.co.uk/archive/article_job_dissatisfaction.php

If you are a registered user at Amazon.com, you can use their "Search
inside the Book" feature. The poem (which originally appeared in 1974
book called "How Do You Feel? A Guide to Your Emotions") has been
reprinted in a book called "Teaching Adults":

Amazon.com: Teaching Adults, Page 73
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0335210996/ref=sib_vae_pg_73/103-5229962-3889414?%5Fencoding=UTF8&keywords=poem%20for%20everyman&p=S02A&twc=3&checkSum=2Z7HeIL5iSytVM3OXb6%2BE6HXYMx1lnMfjZebimMy%2B1I%3D#reader-link

My search was made much easier by the fact that I recognized the poem
from your description of it. I found the poet's name by searching
Google and Amazon.

Google Web Search: "poem for everyman"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=%22poem+for+everyman

I hope this is helpful! If I have not correctly identified your poem,
or if a link does not function, please request clarification; I'll be
glad to offer further assistance before you rate my answer.

Best regards,
pinkfreud

Perfect - and from so little information

Thank you very much for the five stars and the generous tip!

~pinkfreud