Silence and Civility
The Covidlike phrase slithered into my consciousness,
coiled itself around unprotected prudence
and constricted.
Its bifurcated tongue touched the untouchable,
testing whisps of thought with darts of anger,
selecting venom’s next victim.
Overlapping scales pressed against prudence’s mouth,
squelching her response.
Logic attempted rescue--
came from all directions
seeking this unexpected foe,
while normal dissipated
like mist on a summer morn.
Each time I repeated the phrase
coils tightened,
making venom drip from fangs of desperation.
Confusion overflowed its cauldron,
spilling into and flooding the chamber of id.
I looked for escape--
a response to entice normal to return,
but found no words.
Change forced himself upon me,
overthrowing bastions of prejudice and privilege,
making me repeat his words,
“Silence is violence and civility, complicity.”
Copyright © Gerald Greene | Year Posted 2020
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