Bound by Silence

A Poem by from the poet's desk

This poem is about an invisible, ever-present shadow woven through the quite moments passed unnoticed

I’ll be your shadow,

A silent ghost

you’ll never see

We are bound by threads

you cannot feel

Tangled in ways

you’ll never believe.

You might not see me

in the daylight

For I was in the dark

And I saw you creep

When you’re lost

in the quiet

I’m the hand you reached

for in your sleep.

If I could I’d prick myself

Just to give you roses

But all you'll feel is thorns

Give you my sunlight

So you don't have to mourn

But if I’m the sun then

I’d burn you with all my sorrow

For my love is poison

And I am its prisoner

I'll drift away

Slipping through the silence

© 2025 from the poet's desk

Author's Note

Looking for tips to improve, let me know what you think.

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Reviews

JayG

In general, this, and your other poems, feel like you leaning back in your chair and rambling, the words tied together by experiences, feelings, and reactions that the reader can’t access. In other words, the story in your head never made it to the page.

But because all that IS in your head when you read it, it works perfectly. That’s part of why we need to edit from the chair of a reader, who has only what the words suggest to them, based on their life-experience, not your intent.

My suggestion: Take advantage of the centuries worth of refinement to the profession. After all, they offer degree programs in poetry-related subjects, so we have to assume that at least some of what’s taught there is necessary. Right?

As Wilson Mizner puts it: “If you steal from one author it’s plagiarism; if you steal from many it’s research.” So...research! Learn the tricks and techniques the pros take for granted and you stand on the shoulders of giants. Skip that and you’re making mistakes they learned to avoid hundreds of years ago—without knowing you’re doing it.

A great intro to non-metrical poetry is Mary Oliver’s, A Poetry Handbook The book is a gem, filled with unexpected insights.
https://dokumen.pub/a-poetry-handbook-0156724006.html

And for an introduction to the things you never noticed about language, and how they relate to metrical and non-metrical poetry, trot over to Amazon and read the excerpt from Stephen Fry’s, The Ode Less Traveled. He’ll have you saying, “How did I not notice that?” I recommend reading it, for that, to all kinds of writers, but especially those writing metrical poetry.

But...whatever you do, hang in there and keep on writing. If nothing else, it keeps us off the streets at night. 🤣

Jay Greenstein
Articles: https://jaygreenstein.wordpress.com/category/the-craft-of-writing/the-grumpy-old-writing-coach/
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@jaygreenstein3334

- - - - -

“Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader. Not the fact that it’s raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.”
~ E. L. Doctorow

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
~ Mark Twain

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.”
~ Groucho Marx

Posted 3 Weeks Ago

But because all that IS in your head when you read it, it works perfectly. That’s part of why we need to edit from the chair of a reader, who has only what the words suggest to them, based on their life-experience, not your intent.

My suggestion: Take advantage of the centuries worth of refinement to the profession. After all, they offer degree programs in poetry-related subjects, so we have to assume that at least some of what’s taught there is necessary. Right?

As Wilson Mizner puts it: “If you steal from one author it’s plagiarism; if you steal from many it’s research.” So...research! Learn the tricks and techniques the pros take for granted and you stand on the shoulders of giants. Skip that and you’re making mistakes they learned to avoid hundreds of years ago—without knowing you’re doing it.

A great intro to non-metrical poetry is Mary Oliver’s, A Poetry Handbook The book is a gem, filled with unexpected insights.
https://dokumen.pub/a-poetry-handbook-0156724006.html

And for an introduction to the things you never noticed about language, and how they relate to metrical and non-metrical poetry, trot over to Amazon and read the excerpt from Stephen Fry’s, The Ode Less Traveled. He’ll have you saying, “How did I not notice that?” I recommend reading it, for that, to all kinds of writers, but especially those writing metrical poetry.

But...whatever you do, hang in there and keep on writing. If nothing else, it keeps us off the streets at night. 🤣

Jay Greenstein
Articles:  https://jaygreenstein.wordpress.com/category/the-craft-of-writing/the-grumpy-old-writing-coach/
Videos:  https://www.youtube.com/@jaygreenstein3334

- - - - -

“Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader. Not the fact that it’s raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.” 
~ E. L. Doctorow

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
 ~ Mark Twain

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.” 
 ~ Groucho Marx

Rating /100