/pein/

A little rumination on the word 'pain' - how the individual phonemes (sounds) convey the meaning.

[p]

Pressure building up

Behind locked lips

Exhale, gasp for air

[ei]

The high-pitched shriek of

A frightened, wounded animal

In the dark

[n]

A helpless, tongue-tied moan

The frustration of the mute

Trying to utter sound

 

            Indivisible

Immutability

Squeezed into

A single syllable

Droplets of sound

Falling from the mouth

Like teeth kicked in

Like blood dripping

            A black bird

Nesting

In the hollow space

Of my chest