Home » Poems » Lycia Harding » I Can'T Hear You When You Whisper

I Can'T Hear You When You Whisper

" I CAN'T HEAR YOU WHEN YOU WHISPER "

you screech one final time, 
so loudly that the walls between us shake

(Listen, listen, listen!)

I repeat, with fresh rebellion
but to you, it's just a whisper
so you hear nothing

'til my lips are at your grimy ear 
and now it is too late

After I have done, you thump behind me down the cellar stairs, eyes aglitter

And leaning awkwardly against the roughened wall, 
stare past me as I work 

I may now speak my mind unmolested,
while you, of course, can make no further 
comment

These shaken walls hold sentences for far too many ghosts 
and tomorrow, I'll begin to tear them down
but for now, I eulogize at the height of my voice

so I can't hear you when you whisper

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Sigrid Ermine

Date: 9/1/2020 10:56:00 PM

Hi Lycia. Strong intriguing work, just right for WIC Contest. I'm left with an unsettled feeling, so your write has given the desired affect. The whisper theme could mean several different scenarios, someone hit around the ears would cause static to sound, muting small noises. Congrats, very sound entry.!

Lycia Harding
Date: 9/2/2020 4:02:00 AM

Thank you, Sigrid! I'll tell you the real story; its about an abused woman who's had enough so she kills her abuser (Parent? Husband? Captor?) and drags him/her down to the basement to be buried next to all the others he's/she's victimized. I'm glad you found it creepy, that was the intention. Xoxo! LyLy