in silence
in an attempt to make people talk to each other more the state decided to take everyone’s phones.
when protests started to spread across the globe, they realised that anger sounded the same in all languages.
they could not ban speech, so they decided to execute anyone whose voice exceeded 58 decibels.
when you knocked on my door to ask me if we could go out, i only nodded.
after we ordered our food, came back to our booth, settled on our seats,
arranged our napkins, and said the customary hi’s hello’s how are you’s
all languages ceased to exist between us. we could only talk in silence.
(inspired by ‘A Quiet World’ by Jeffrey McDaniel)
inside
outside
inside
talk turning to anger
roaring decibels
drowning sound
inside
music occupying air
voices humming along song
feet widening space
inside
the rushing of heartbeats
soft murmurs against the dark
moans travelling through walls
outside
the slow
lilting of leaves