sew my lips shut, will you
what is this
forced vow of silence
ringing ringing ringing
for no one to hear?
what is this
vow enshrouding
my lips from yours
tickling and itching and burning
all around
I have never known
such a loud quiet.
I have seen the dead air
from all of history
aligned, misaligned
to explode within my head
explode angrily and without
warning--
no timber! no precautionaries
just a blast
a blast of silence
to tear the tympanum
to tear the shroud
to bury me
to drag a dagger
across my voice
that rings and rings and rings
across the inanity of my
mute mutiny.