We cannot write silence.
The beats.
The pause.
The breath.
The way it aches
and persists

and begs that,

if only for a moment,

our consciousness is only a whisper.
our bodies,
our lips,
the air that passes through falling chests
and stillness.

A melody of emotion.
Sleeping in the quiet of a heartbeat skipped
a word lost to the wind.

The wickedness of reticence
Encapsulated in air and time.

The moment stretched too long.
Hesitation perpetuated in the grip of fingernails
pressed into palms.

We cannot write silence,
but we can try.

to find a way to immortalize emotion
to create space
in the ceaseless drone of words that speak and spin.

I cannot write silence. But I can write
tears and years
and the burn of long-stretched lies.

I can write goodbyes and hellos
And dozen ways to say
I love to hate you
Or
I hate to love you
and sometimes
I cannot tell the difference.
Silence.
The space I have upheld for myself.

I love to hate you
Heart.

I hate to love you too.

I cannot write silence.
But I know it.
and I have held it in my hand.

DRINKING NEW DAWNS

Foundations forming as minds wide open are blindly accepting of challenges or change

Unestablished, not even finding middle ground, lost in between either up or down

With no guiding light loose minds quickly become lost in the dark ,scruples are still not trained

Slowly feeding the frenzy finding bright while blocking out black,washing memories before they're allowed

Rituals become normal with time, as simple as walking  new desires can be stalking but reality can not be feigned

Well laid plans systematically rundown,lost perceptions now lounging,responsibility now so easily disavowed

Reckless rambling  instead of learning to live  ,strategy's played out in days forgoing any planning while existing unconstrained

Now lost never knowing the promise that could have been ,unpaid debts to yourself  don't carry much clout

Bargaining with time is certainly not fine,life slowed down enough to see some light relax the fight and define constraint

Now with new beginnings realizing how far behind we have fallen,rising daily to find a new route

Life opening up, stalled visions now surrounded by light, a better bet when we know the odds,new views to be entertained . R.C.

ROWING WITH ONE OAR

Flush with fury ready to do it all in a hurry ,begin to roll for sights unknown

What can it be that we have yet to see,do the deeds before our perceptions change

Rules are for fools ,seeking treasure for unseen chests waiting to be filled with jewels or to embellish our crown

Futures viewed through a pin hole ,not reading long range maps ,better with the freshness  of being unconstrained

Not ready to take a position, friend and foe mingle in the same row ,remaining tight against the frown

Bruises slowly form ,broken or torn quickly becoming the norm ,yet still remain untamed

Lessons quickly adding up ,time slowing, beginning to feel stuck, That view now new, seen through a larger clearer window

Personality's shaping with naivety still showing,experience adding weight while futures remained unframed

Cast into a current With no life preserver we might quickly drown if we can not recall all that info

Unprepared to leave shore not realizing it doesn't have to be alone ,paddling in life is easier when it can be exchanged . R.C.

MANY MOONS HAVE PASSED

Many moons have passed since we've seen her last,if she ever sees the light won't she be aghast with whats goin on in life

Lost trying to find her head, moving fast to only go in reverse many seem to follow that self inflicted curse

Trying to feel special forgetting each moment is crucial , to be unique while ending up as Satan's wife

Her simple ways were a sample of how safe life can be,not bothered by the unknown or blindly protected by verse

Filled with faith slowly being swallowed by the wrath,once blessed now surrounded by vice

Lambs to wolves not knowing how swiftly in revolves ,time did not allow to protest or rehearse

Unsure of tactics, quickly blinded by others antics,starting to feel as if being laid out for sacrifice

What became of that Rainbow when part of a dream was able to flow,time doesn't offer healing in reverse

True pathways once impervious became faded,now always waiting for the good news to arrive

Now bogged in a mire forgetting to aspire,,living time passages or some other old fogies rhyme,what will it take for her to come back to earth .R.C.

KEYS UNLOCK DOORS

Waiting on a new storm  or are we wanting to take on another form

Lost on the brink just idling biding for time to make that link

SHOUTING out what was the key that was missed ,will finding it let them be reborn

Paths await, with this little debate,harder with hills ,many willing to guide us around this obelisk

Preparations made, set to travel finding a direction to unravel,will we find the light before the dawn

Locksmiths maybe becoming the new messiahs ,need a pick to find that nitch

Going out also means reaching in ,focus on an entryway to open a hatch, hopefully letting us find a new zone

Certain questions don't always wait patiently, seeking solace while turning handles to resolve that itch

Skeletons in a closet still have a door and require a skeleton key to uncover ,
opening new entrances to not be alone

Passageways with more gates locked but never permanently blocked,a golden ring holds keys to be used based on our needs ,new admissions to help enrich R.C.

Always a new door for us but will we know which one or will it open up just another home or room that is worse?
Thank you for reading,your thoughts are appreciated. Rick

STROLLING OUT OF TUNE

When the wind blows round it swirls and sweeps memories of what was once there, thoughts of an old song take longer and longer to repair

Began toe tapping almost adding in the clapping but would rather arise maybe explore to find a new prize

Stuck in a cerebral gap this tune may take a map,keeping digging in try to place that gorgeous groove

Set off out the door to not be a bore, soon found myself pacing in time to some hidden rhyme ,waiting for it to arise

Birds and buses beginning to chirp and hum adding their part, as I try to pick up more clues

Taking it in stride feeling this may be a long stroll,that unknown elegy will be a nice surprise

Rambling again, smooth echoes entering my mind hopefully helping to harmonize my next muse

Making the next strut to remove muzak from that rut, picking it up a key or two will surely bring brightness to my eyes

Lost lyrics lingering ,slowly letting go of that *******,  guitar maybe a banjo or dobro waiting with a new lick to diffuse

Back to the trail humming along listening to the sky's to drop that song,so will this shuffle bring a new ruffle or just be for the exercise

Again set to travel as the sonnets unravel,  hoping that bebop will be part of the hop desiring the dancing, breaking into upbeat prancing finally finding that new melody will be the best news. R..C.

****** IN PUDDLES

Waking up to the west wind blowing in again ,same direction another day,begin just to be lost in the fray

Seemed we were just shivering, now shudder to feel the pain shining as it's heat tempers all souls

Dawn again ,new light should bring strength but  now exposes pain,emotions left open for all to survey

Many mentors once stood tall ,time and again we watched them fall,are they replaced or we take over those roles

What remained hidden in the night ,left alone afraid to fight,can the next visions bring something good our way

New mail nothing to regale ,just a bustle of bills to add to the ills ,the weight is great as it grows

Everyone or everything walking on or bouncing off of me has left deep bruises,victim or naivete

Will life still matter if I don't know my own fate,but internally I am not left with hate it just brings us to new lows

****** in puddles just to watch the ripple is this what it has all come down too,  pushing upward,outward to keep from decay

Were we meant to play on main street or stand out of the way  ,maybe always knowing we would end up in the alleyways

So are we left howling at the moon just to hide from noon,does it all remain hidden or will it meet us halfway . R.C.