The Elusive Moment of Silence

Sometimes a moment of silence is impossible to achieve;
Especially with all these voices screaming inside of me.
Even with the TV off and my wife and son in bed,
I cannot silence the cacophony of sounds inside my head.

“We’re wasting our time just sitting here”, says the energetic boy inside of me;
While my artistic soul starts to complain, “Silence is boring, turn on the symphony.”
“I can’t hear the silence,” complains my ogre, “there’s too much arguing inside of 
here.”
“We’ll never hear the silence, if you don’t shut up,” to my Id it’s perfectly clear.

“Come on gang, let’s have some peace, Joe is trying to meditate,”
Says the mediator inside my head that the others all passionately hate.
Then a bang comes from the room above where my boy should be asleep,
And everyone stops to take a pause, and on the sound our focus we keep.

And then there it is, just for a second, after the bumping noise,
Not a peep out of any one and complete silence we enjoy.
Followed soon by the little voice, coming from atop of the stairs;
“Dad, I fell out of bed,” and silence no more for another year.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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Fry Avatar
January 15, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Great! really enjoyed reading this - keep the pen flowing!!
Fraser Avatar
January 6, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Many congratulations Joe on your win in Paula's contest....:)
Brown Avatar
January 5, 2011 at 9:54 AM
Congratulations on your win Joe in the "Breathe in the silence" contest by Paula Swanson. Love, Carol
Kendrick Avatar
January 3, 2011 at 2:58 PM
Great approach to the challenge..Congratulations on your win..Sara
Mannan Avatar
January 2, 2011 at 8:05 PM
An amazing write dear Joe. Many congratulations for this win.
Richards Avatar
January 2, 2011 at 8:39 AM
It is so true, that we can never completely shut down those voices....and as a parent that last line is just the perfect example of why. Well done, Joe...this is one I relate to!! Congrats! Love, Carrie
Poet Avatar
January 2, 2011 at 5:58 AM
Congratulations Joe on your well deserved win!
Whitlock-Ishway Avatar
January 2, 2011 at 5:07 AM
"Dad I fell out of bed", one us parents can definitely relate to! Congrats on your win my friend... Lay
Mehta Avatar
January 2, 2011 at 2:28 AM
Congratulations on this well deserved third place win in the cointest of Paula, Joe
Devonshire Avatar
January 1, 2011 at 9:29 PM
Gave me a good laugh, Joe. Silence may elude you, but when you live alone you get used to it. Sounds like you have quite a full and festive household. Congrats on your win! Love, Carolyn
Johnson Avatar
January 1, 2011 at 8:26 PM
congratulations Joe on your big win with this great poem. I enjoyed it. Love, joyce
Gorelick Avatar
January 1, 2011 at 8:20 PM
Congrats Joe on this bit on the allusive quality of quiet. Bg
Sweetheart Avatar
January 1, 2011 at 8:09 PM
Congrats Joe on your third place win in the Silence contest with this incredible entry ...my friend.. enjoy with luv this first day of 2011...
A   Avatar
December 30, 2010 at 5:28 PM
Joe..,, enjoyed your poem. Stopping by to wish you lots of cheers & joy this comming new year.. May you always find new ways to share your talent and imagination with us here at the soup. Happy new year to you and your family,, God bless,.miss.p.d.
Brown Avatar
December 30, 2010 at 5:02 AM
I enjoyed reading your excellent poetry this morning Joe. I will be back after the New Year to read more of your poetry. Wishing you a very Happy New Year. Love, Carol
Yeterian Avatar
December 29, 2010 at 10:16 PM
I REALLY enjoyed this. Great write, great read. Have a Happy, and NOISY New Year dear sir. Sean Yeterian
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