empty words

No shortage of sounds and syllables
that dance together
in a constant chorus
of intonation and inflection.
And then you stop
too short,
you begin again
to speak about what ails you
and what is wrong
with everybody else.

There is no pausing
to think
and to consider what you
really want to say.
What is the truth that should be spoken?
What is real in that moment?
What can be captured by
the impossibility of words?
No, you just keep talking,
filling up space with the sounds
of these letters that when
put together add up to
zero.

When will you learn
that instead of speaking
in a stream of ideas,
in an ocean of random thoughts,
Your silence is more precious.
These words that come
From chaos and strife
are just floating
like bubbles, looking to perch
and then pop.
I can see right through them
and their sounds wash over me.

I am not listening
anymore
to your empty words.
I wish your words
would simply float away.

Responses

  1. Anita Ferreri Avatar

    Like you, I “can see right through them and their sounds wash over me.” I ask myself how others cannot hear or see the bubbles pop as the empty lies force their way out into the open. Your words, carefully chosen, are powerful

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Stacey Shubitz Avatar

    I will echo what Anita said.

    i felt these words in the gorgeous poem you wrote.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Lainie Levin Avatar

    Oh. I feel this. And I think…how many times has it been that I’ve had to disengage myself from someone as they speak? How many times have I had to put up some sort of emotional barrier to protect or numb myself?

    I also like your powerful use of poetic device, from your alliteration and assonance in the first stanza to your thoughtful use of line breaks:

    “No, you just keep talking,
    filling up space with the sounds
    of these letters that when
    put together add up to
    zero.”

    Beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

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