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Unwritten Words

They’re not for you
Nor you for them
Unwritten words from unwritten pens

Like shades of white 
Blanks on a page
Unwritten words in an unwritten age

They speak in volumes
Though tongues may fail
Unwritten words that tell no tale

The poem that’s never penned
The bell that’s never rung
The hero who’s unheralded, unsung

For words unwritten
Are without heed
That none the wiser will ever read –

Unuttered words
Are words unheard
By man or beast or woodland bird

They give no voice
To mice or man
To emulate, evolve, or take a stand

And with no voice
No song to sing
The robin sighs and folds its wings –

Unspoken words
Are words unknown
In aching solitude adrift, alone

Unexpressed
And lost in time
As beacons in the night that never shine

Copyright © John Oldham | Year Posted 2023

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Michelle Smith Date: 11/23/2023 11:04:00 PM So many poems in my heart that I haven't gotten out and have forgotten before I even got to think of how they should go... :( Login to Reply John Oldham Date: 11/30/2023 4:17:00 AM Same here, Michelle, same here.

Gershon Wolf Date: 3/31/2023 3:47:00 PM Reminiscent slightly of that old TV show, 'You Don't Say:' 'It's not what you say that counts. It's what you don't say!' Your rendering, of course, is poetic. The TV show was canned inanity. Peace, Gershon Login to Reply

Deb M Date: 3/28/2023 4:48:00 AM Love this John powerful and touching! Enjoyed….Debx Login to Reply John Oldham Date: 3/28/2023 5:32:00 AM Thank you, Deb! Happy to hear you enjoyed it. Best - john

Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/24/2023 11:48:00 AM I like this. It's sad. And very poetic Login to Reply John Oldham Date: 3/24/2023 2:05:00 PM Thanks, Andrea. Glad you see the poetry in it. Regards - john

Daniel Turner Date: 3/19/2023 12:05:00 PM This is a wonderful poem, John. Easy to read and easy to follow. I love the concept of unwritten, unspoken, and unheard words. I wish I had thought of it first. LOL Login to Reply John Oldham Date: 3/20/2023 6:23:00 AM Thanks, Daniel. Glad you liked it! Best, - john

Ilene Bauer Date: 3/18/2023 12:17:00 PM this is wonderful, john! aside from the message, which is very wise, i really love the rhyme and the flow of the poem... Login to Reply John Oldham Date: 3/18/2023 5:47:00 PM Thaks, Ilene. I liked the way the structure worked out, too. It could have been a poem of couplets, but it seemed to work better breaking the first line of each stanza into two -