Crust of Silence


She eats the crust of silence,
its crumbs slipping from
a world gone insane.

A child cries…She muffles the noise
with attention whoring Kardashians.

Her hobbled tongue speaks
complicity into the echo of horror.

A coffee cup sits as stale as her denial,
“I didn’t hear a thing.”

Silence screams, but no one is listening.


©Susie Clevenger 2016


Comments

Maude Lynn said…
Oh, this is powerful, Susie!
Gail said…
I had to take a breath and read it again. Oh, my, strong, good, scary.
Gillena Cox said…
Powerful write. You managed screams and silence in one breath

Thanks for dropping in at my blog

a Happy Creative 2016 to you

Much love...
Nuwan S said…
oh Susie! nice it
well done
good luck
(from -http://imagtalks.blogspot.com/)
Stacy M.S. said…
a sharp, astounding message.

the complete mainstream media is pure static.

shows like the Kardashians make me feel as if my IQ is dropping to even watch a commercial.
brudberg said…
Yes yes yes.. That's the horrible terrible sound of silence in a world gone mad.
Outlawyer said…
Yikes--this is really scary, Susie--so well-described. Thanks. k.
Outlawyer said…
Susie--in a comment you don't need to approve--I think there is a little typo in your poem--I think you mean the coffee sits as stale as her denial, and you have "has"--I'm not sure--but my eye is always drawn to that kind of stuff in other people's work--while I completely miss all the typos in my own! Anyway, just wanted to let you know, in case it was an oversight--k.
Kerry O'Connor said…
You paint a chilling portrait, Susie. I am pleased to know this version of The Sound of Silence proved to be inspirational. This is a prophetic voice, indeed.
colleen said…
I read sipping instead of slipping and then saw the world as a vase. Interesting. I'd like to break the silence by slapping my hand on the table.
Anonymous said…
wow, that grabs me by the throat. Well done
Jim said…
Nice application of the Simon song, Susie. His was on of my really nice favorites ever since he wrote it in 1964. That summer I spent a long month in San Fransisco. I enjoyed being a hippie at heart. You summed things up sooo good, "silence screams, but no one is listening."
The song's last verse has more words for the same:
"And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said “The words of the prophets
Are written on subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sounds of silence”
..
hedgewitch said…
You make the inner silence shout for us, and a terrifying primal scream it is.
Carrie Van Horn said…
Denial is a harsh force. This is a powerful poem Susie. Always a pleasure to read your work. :-)
You spoke the song's message perfectly, Susie.
grapeling said…
oof. powerful, Susie ~
Bekkie Sanchez said…
Silence and how they get some is many things to many people. I enjoy your ideas!
restlessjo said…
What a powerful rendition, Susie! Quite mesmerising! Thanks for sharing and Happy 2016 to you :)