Ms. Harper Lee, a scribe of note,

as her first published novel wrote

To Kill a Mocking Bird—a pip.

Her follow-up was nearly zip.

A public life was troublesome.

Ms. Lee stayed hale. Ms. Lee stayed mum.

She gave us nothing from her pen

for more than fifty years! But then

she, casting reticence aside,

released a book—and quickly died.

If we'd be well and live, perhaps

we all should learn to shut our traps.