Muted


Words throat deep,
truth rimmed, and
handcuffed to outrage
can’t enter my voice.

Ears, always ears
glued to the dark side
of hearing listen
for a chance to rebel tag
a soul brash enough
to speak the truth.

Patience dances with reason,
my spirit screams now,
bloodshot arguments spin forward
against the wall where free speech died.

speak up … SPeAk uP… SPEAK UP!
I’m weighing my words against
the length of the rope, dividing the cost
by the width of the bars.

I feel the day walking along my spine,
hell has a bribe, heaven a gate.
There are too many sisters who will never speak.

Life is not living if you’re seen and not heard.
My body is my body. My voice is my voice.
I’ll roar against the mantide who would rob me of choice.
Speech has a price, revolution a fight.
Tomorrow is too urgent to enter it mute.

©Susie Clevenger 2017

#NaPoWriMo2017

Real Toads ~ "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream

&

Dark Poetry For The Cruelest Month

Comments

Sanaa Rizvi said…
My goodness such tangible emotions run through this, pain, suffering, angst, tears all connected together to form what the soul is experiencing. Especially; "Patience dances with reason, my spirit screams now, bloodshot arguments spin forward against the wall where free speech died" is so poignant. Beautifully written.


Lots of love,
Sanaa
April 21, 2017 at 9:36 AM
Anonymous said…
Oh my goodness, this leaves me...breathless. It starts so measured, so sad - muted - and builds to a crescendo of such power! This is wonderful <3
April 21, 2017 at 9:38 AM
✿ said…
That last line, my word --- outstanding!
April 21, 2017 at 10:22 AM
Anonymous said…
Ooooh! I love this!
April 21, 2017 at 10:33 AM
Magaly Guerrero said…
In your poem, at the Garden, you speak of not being sure if you captured the meaning of the prompt. Well, my dear lady, I must say that you captured me (and even the language and mood of Ellison's story). I'm with Esther, your lines get caught in my throat and do strange things to my breath. The end of your poem is a manifesto!
April 21, 2017 at 11:08 AM
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Sheer Woman Power. Wonderful to read this morning, Susie.
April 21, 2017 at 11:34 AM
Anonymous said…
Moving from muted to vocal warrior calling her sisters to rally round...this is powerful, specially as you shared some of the backstory recently...you are right...mute will not do today or tomorrow.
April 21, 2017 at 1:20 PM
Rommy said…
The last line has me raising my fist in the air in solidarity.
April 21, 2017 at 2:22 PM
De Jackson said…
"truth rimmed, and
handcuffed to outrage" -- I simply love this.
April 21, 2017 at 2:53 PM
Anonymous said…
Very impressive. As your voice grew, so did the length and strength of the lines.
April 21, 2017 at 7:23 PM
Rosemary Nissen-Wade said…
I feel both the desperation and the determination it becomes.
April 21, 2017 at 8:03 PM
grapeling said…
good. speaking up is vital ~
April 22, 2017 at 1:15 AM
Gina said…
Very powerful words indeed. It is frightening to me how so many dare not speak truths out loud for fear of retribution XXX
April 22, 2017 at 1:26 AM
Khaya Ronkainen said…
Such piercing, and vivid images of pain, tears and all. But outrage transforms this piece into a powerful protest. And "Tomorrow is too urgent to enter it mute." is a manifesto, indeed. Well-written, Susie!
April 22, 2017 at 1:31 AM
Sunshineshelle said…
I want to hug you, AWESOME, I felt like handing you a megaphone to make sure everyone hears these words!!!
April 22, 2017 at 8:12 AM
Kerry O'Connor said…
I hope never to live in a time when free speech has died. Powerful protest.
April 22, 2017 at 8:14 AM
Jim said…
Seems we are both hushed in different ways, Susie, but similar also. When we lived n Montgomery County seemed that one was an idiot and traitor if he or she even thought of liking a non-Republican viewpoint. I kept silent.
Some other, family matters, I wouldn't tell in a memoir like writing even if discovered after I died. Not things I'VE done. Nuff, ...
Sorry I didn't get around to here last night. Things happened. But I had to come, I like hearing your views and love your words. Thank you, it was well worth the visit tonight.
..
April 22, 2017 at 9:31 PM
Little Gothic Horrors said…
So wonderfully powerful! Being silenced is definitely a recurring theme in this blog fest, which is so interesting, and equally, doesn't surprise me. I believe that feeling "Muted" is at the core of the world's troubles right now.
April 23, 2017 at 12:33 AM
Unknown said…
This is beautiful, thank you. I love how the power builds in the piece, and I will long remember the sentiment that tomorrow is too important to enter mute.
April 26, 2017 at 4:58 PM
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