******* -- courage
Defend my tears
That stream effortlessly

I would rather stay numb  
Than be consumed
by the unbroken echo’s
decreeing my insignificance

I stand, grasping for air -- in a puddle of pain
I used to drown in the words I wanted to say
Now I’m DROWNING
From the lingering waves
of WORDS that fought for me

Hear me now
In the silence
MY sanitary
Keeping me afloat
Within the catastrophic voices
That buried
All of me
In the soundless sea

I am safe