Unspeakable

let's speak of the unspeakable
the horrid, heartless, maybe headless tale

let's speak of small children, 
gaunt with indifference, both of and for
the sunken eyes, the distended belly
the insects hovering about...waiting

let's speak of hospital corridors
hushed conversations with green-scrubbed
doctors and nurses, the welling of tears
unready to find peace in the parting

let's speak of nighttime raids under 
star-filled skies, the flash of tracers
and night goggles with green eyes
and anguished old mothers seeing
young men with sandals and Kalashnikovs

let us speak of morning mothers
calling children to breakfast
seen hanging around closet hooks from 
taunting things they could not stand
and family forced questions of why

let's speak of dear souls we
would do anything for but are unable
as they refuse their meds and
talk to the un-seeable and listen
to what the voices tell them to do

let us speak of shiny nights on
florescent streets with young women
the richly dark men, lady killers, driven
telling them to climb on in
she's a lot like the daughter

let's speak of visits from
the local police or sheriff,
equally bereft, the color-guard
to softly express their deep regret
as we crumple on the porch step

let us speak of paneled rooms with
mahogany meeting tables and white-papers
recommending divestiture of expendables
who are actually people, with lives

let's speak of our own fears
that we hold each to heart
well closeted and cloistered
maybe even from ourselves
let's shine some light to banish shadow

let us speak of the unspeakable and
thereby remove its interdiction
take its power, and throw it in the air
to the wind, to be blown free,
free of fear, the anguish of unsaid...said.

© Goode Guy 2011-08-18

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