Fall 2004 - 09.11.04

Silence

does the silence ever end?
I have kept myself silent.
I have pondered and pained.

Futility takes it's toll in the silence.
All that i have sought is now
Inaudible, invisible, inpalatable...

Inconsequential.

The silence is like time
Consuming life as it goes
Unheard, unseen, untouched

Uncontrolled.

Events swoop down
Like birds of prey

They enter without knocking
Invited or uninvited
They are greeted with silence.

They appear as mirrors
And recall themselves;

A bicycle ride without training wheels
A classroom of children
A bully
An ice cream float
A new song
A pet
A bee sting
A funeral
A trip to the country
A trip to the city
A stubbed toe
A grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup
A crush
A passionate kiss
A wedding
A post card
A photograph
A broken toy
A trip to the beach
A thunderstorm
A parade
A man yelling
A woman crying
A child...
...under blankets, silent.

They flood the room
Until there is no space for air
And i remain, suffocated in slumber

In my dream I gaze into their mirrors
And I am left staring back
Into the void of silence

And with shallow breaths
They go as they came
Unannounced, unexplained, untouched

Undone.

Does the silence ever end?

Sometimes i wish to throw something
Through a window
And count the seconds
Of broken silence.

But i am afraid i would lose count
And have to try again.
And soon, there would be
No windows

Does the silence ever end?
Or is it simply broken?

I lose count
And wait
For the next event.

Like a child...
...under blankets, silent.

spc 12/07/02 follansbee, wv