Silence Surrounds Me

Silence surrounds me,
Violence hounds me,
My fear astounds me,
Finds me standing here,
Stranded behind this
Blind, black line veneer.
I lack any clear
Reminders, givers
Of solace and cheer.
I’m at a loss here;
The crossroads appear;
I’m handed a fine
Souvenir, sliver
Of a mirror. In
The band of silver,
I see into sheer
Tomorrow and the
Sorrow it brings near.
It will soon borrow
What has landed here,
Spanning the low years,
Planning the slow tears
That truly must fall
When unruly trust
Calls out, «Man to man!»
Hot or cool he stalls,
Once grounded, he rusts,
Gives one groan of lust,
Then moans, «Dust to dust.»
Alone, I clutch ten
Dried pieces of crust.
The cruel and unjust
Silence surrounds me.
Silence surrounds me,
Violence hounds me,
All those around me
Have cleared out of here,
Deserted a friend,
Perverted the end
To convert and bend;
To smear and offend;
To cause fear to blend
With anger and hate;
Linger at the gate;
Wait and hesitate;
Semi-conscious state.
The finger of fate
Points out my worst faults,
Double-jointed vaults,
Cursed somersaults.
The singer assaults
My nostrils and eyes.
A sweet stolen kiss
Echoes the abyss
Swollen with the missed
Opportunities,
Lost chances untold,
Romantic glances
Unreturned, love spurned;
And, to my surprise,
Every sound dies.
I’m left with my lies
Where reverie cries.
Violence hounds me,
Silence surrounds me.
Silence surrounds me.