Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Silence is not always golden May 2012

 


May 2012

 

Silence 

isn’t always golden, 

I realize, 

seated at my desk 

on the landing under the stairs, 

like Harry Potter,

 latched-in by more 

than muggle threats

 or witches spells,

 lacking even 

the hoot of an owl

 for company, 

she sweeping by me 

with an indignant air, 

though pausing just long enough

 to stare down through the gap 

as I yap with some 

other employee on the phone,

 her dark eyes as scary now 

as they were attractive before 

swallowing me whole,

 as if I was Jonah

unable to escape the jaws 

of my own guilt, 

her darkness so all encompassing 

I am helpless against it, 

as if she can cast 

a shroud over me 

 causing me to fall silent as well,

 though she uses her silence 

like a weapon

to beat me over the shoulder

 for those crimes  I committed 

and I am truly humbled.

 



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