The Art of Restraint

Wide-eyed and nerves clenching, I await the vacancy that fills the page As eraser smudges and blackened lead Sear through stanzas left for dead Leering on the verge of lines, I hear the symphony come to a halt Captive sounds unravel the thread Burst at the seams like words unread Jaw-slacked and brows upturned, I fathom the launch of syllables Drifting from my tongue to label Sights and sounds recounted as tale Calm despite gut-wrenching, I watch the drumming of my fingertips Fall into silence on the kitchen table Like wounded soldiers, weapons disabled