I write - XLIX

I write

Of time that stood
Suspended, motionless, still
After it showed me it's might -

Came boldly through the door
Laughed at my display of will
And snatched away what was mine

Smirked as I cajoled and prayed
Ranted and raved
And then, heartlessly waltzed away

Of that blow in the gut
Of that humiliating subjugation
To Old Man Time's might...

In surrender, in defeat,

I write.

Silence - XIX

I am:

A quivering lip;
Clenched fists;
The imprint of nails
dug into tender hands;
A piercing moonbeam
in a midnight shade of dark...

I am:

Silence

I write - XLVIII

Like a caterpillar
Struggling out of its cocoon.

Like a rabbit
Fighting for its life in the jaws of a wolf.

I battle with my thoughts
That threaten to block my view of this wonderful world,
Of this beautiful life.

Of my combat with
These grief-stricken, fear laden thoughts,

I write.

- -

The hiss of the ventilator
The beep of the machine
The flicker of the monitor
The dripping of saline
The quickening of the pulse
A loud gasp

And then...

Dreadful, cold, final silence.

Silence XVIII

A bustling Monday morning
Drooping shoulders rushing by
Concentration cris-crossed on faces
Of people who whiz around,
Who need to work, to get to places.

I've decided to take it easy,
Work can wait, but this moment won't
I drink in this sunny morning,
Freshly watered pink and purple blooms,
Gaze into my cup of coffee
Read my thoughts wave on by.

Softly sigh and settle back in my chair,
Close my eyes,
Take a deep breath
Tune my ears to the chirping of the birds
Block out everything else
Hear the birds fade away
And listen intently to

My unfathomable silence.

Silence - XVII

I tiptoe away from the crowd
To be alone with me
Stealing moments
Of peace, of solitude
Away from this cacophony.

I stand under a raven sky
No light from the moon
And I sigh, thank god
Nothing, no one here to intrude,
To say hello to, or even goodbye.

Finally, I can enjoy
The whispers of the gentle breeze
The low rumble of the sea
The sway, the rustle
Of a coconut tree.

Like lovers lost in their own dance,
I slowly slip into my trance,
At last, I can revel
In this party for two -
Me and this wonderful Silence.

Silence - XVI

Someone saw my lips smile
Heard my tongue speak
Saw me chatter excitedly...

Saw my fingers beckon
My hands fly
Thought I gestured animatedly...

On the surface,
At the face of it all
Someone saw a vibrant me.

Scratch the surface -
I found myself telling them -
You'll find you're staring into

Frightening Silence.

I write - XLVII

There's a fear
That's scary
And of manifesting that fear
I'm scared.

There's a silence
That's chilling
And of that silence getting colder
I'm afraid.

There's a question
That remains unanswered
And of its answer
I'm scared.

There's a life
That is, to me, too dear
For that dear life
I'm scared.

Of my mortal fear
Of fearing mortality...

I write.

Silence - XV

Transient love -
Sarts with a sigh
A moony look
Stars in the eyes
Feet not touching the ground
From one place to another -
Just floating by.
Warm silence
Yet so much spoken
Volumes - to remember by...

When the silence is comfortable
Know that time will fly.

Transient love
Ends with a sigh
A bitter look
Grief in the eyes
Feet that drag
Days that refuse to end
Cold silence
So much to be spoken
Yet quietly the week goes by...

When the silence becomes cold and unforgiving
Know, that the end is nigh.

Silence XIV

All alone
Lost in thought
Watch a piece of paper
Flutter down
And come to a stop.

Suddenly
From the depths of memory
A moment tiptoes
And throws its arms around me.

A tender kiss
A soft smile
A naughty twinkle in the eye
Swirling ecstacy
Gasps of delight
Enveloping warmth...

I remember them all...

And silently

Hug me.

Silence - XIII

A lazy top

Spinning slowly to a stop

A whirring fan

Slowing down to "cutoff"

A gurgling river

Slowing down at a wall

The end of life

Breath slowing down to a halt

And then...

Silence.