Speechless.

PictureCredit:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081218122152.htm


I had a disturbing confrontation with an acquaintance this summer. As always, when I can't get over my fear or anger over something that has happened, I find it helpful to write a poem about it. Sometimes I have to write several, if something is really upsetting. I probably wrote at least 15 poems and two narrative stories about my grandfather dying before I started feeling like I could lay those feelings to rest.

Thankfully, the event I wrote about here was only a one-poem event. And here is the one poem:




Speechless 7/21/11

My tongue is a leech.

I cannot speak the magic words to break this spell.

When I do try to speak,

frogs and snakes fall from my lips

and drop to the ground, cracking their heads

or slithering away, impotent.

Your words are the words of power-

forceful, intense, quick.

Scaly locusts shoot from your open mouth,

flapping and scratching and slapping my face.

There is no prince for this leech-tongued girl;

all I can do is limp away and hide

with locusts buzzing in my ears.