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 © | Year Posted 2023

Poem

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Smith Avatar
November 23, 2023 at 11:04 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... :(
Oldham Avatar
November 30, 2023 at 4:17 AM
Same here, Michelle, same here.
Wolf Avatar
March 31, 2023 at 3:47 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
M  Avatar
March 28, 2023 at 4:48 AM
Love this John powerful and touching! Enjoyed….Debx
Oldham Avatar
March 28, 2023 at 5:32 AM
Thank you, Deb! Happy to hear you enjoyed it. Best - john
Dietrich Avatar
March 24, 2023 at 11:48 AM
I like this. It's sad. And very poetic
Oldham Avatar
March 24, 2023 at 2:05 PM
Thanks, Andrea. Glad you see the poetry in it. Regards - john
Turner Avatar
March 19, 2023 at 12:05 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
Oldham Avatar
March 20, 2023 at 6:23 AM
Thanks, Daniel. Glad you liked it! Best, - john
Bauer Avatar
March 18, 2023 at 12:17 PM
this is wonderful, john! aside from the message, which is very wise, i really love the rhyme and the flow of the poem...
Oldham Avatar
March 18, 2023 at 5:47 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 -
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