Does silence ——

Ferrick Gray

Poetry Showcase (January 21)

⠀⠀⠀truly exist?
⠀⠀⠀Though I speak not, is this silence?

I hear the birds⠀⠀⠀their mingled calls,
⠀⠀⠀no quietude at all. The sounds, and hence
⠀⠀⠀it ⠀⠀⠀(silence) ⠀⠀⠀cannot be.

I hear the wind. (I was told one time that
⠀⠀⠀tree’s branches caused this phenomenon. Ha!
⠀⠀⠀Pressure differences. ⠀⠀⠀Not trees, not trees.)

I hear the rain that falls.
⠀⠀⠀Prologue to the storm — Prolegomenon.
⠀⠀⠀Begin!

Rumors about silence always persist.
⠀⠀⠀Feeding them⠀⠀⠀is the greatest crime
⠀⠀⠀of all. ⠀⠀⠀Hope flees.

I hear the loneliness of the friendless —
⠀⠀⠀this is me ⠀⠀⠀this is me
⠀⠀⠀Yes … ⠀
⠀
⠀

The title is the first line of the poem, sometimes referred to as an enjambed title.