Three Unkind Silences

The silent page perpetuates itself
encouraging silence
It holds my hand to hold back my hand
from breaking that silence
And the quiet does a violence to life
and the quiet itself is a violence

The silent face endorses itself
with a cynical pride
self assured but there's not a word
I can see through that to fear
And the quiet
Theres a violence
To life which the silent crowd
just passes by
about face with one face
while it smiles with one smile
the institution of silence
when one voice could be so loud

And the quiet does a violence to life
and the quiet itself is a violence

Violence