Unable to speak

When love steals your words and fear locks them away

 

Unable to speak

 

A’ grip, my heart,

it feels the weakness

that does come of worried dreams

 

Endless thoughts paint abstract on this soul

 

Alone, is this how it shall be?

Watching the shadows play

in reverse of what is felt?

 

Gazing afar, this distance fades in the mist,

hides beyond the waters edge, glistens as hope,

yet merely a dream?

 

Sitting here I wonder,

these clouds of grey overhead,

do they speak my name in full syllables

or will the sun find me, waiting,

wishing that I could say?

 

Words, drew me to you but fear release from my tongue

 

If I carve our initials in this wooden bench,

sturdy as it may be,

would that brand me a fool?

 

If I gain the courage to shout my dreams, would you laugh?

 

Silence comes of this walkway, empty,

worn of the past and not knowing the future

of my desires

 

You have taken my voice

It rests within your hands, for it is yours

 

My pulse races, my palms sweat,

I want to tell you, yet…

 

I sit within this silence,

 

unable to speak

 

 

 

Author's Note

Thank you for reading

Reviews

[Pete Langley]

You have conveyed your deep and aching longing so well in this poem, Jack. and it`s a feeling I know well....and also know how locked away you can be, so that to release these emotions becomes like trying open a safe without the combination. This is the first piece of free verse I`ve read of yours, Jack. I`d like to encourage you to write more....but I`m sure you do anyway. Thanks for this, mate. P.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Pete for stopping by. Free-verse is a new adventure for me and I am embracing it the best that I can.

[Acucena G.]

wow, excellent writting, wha was the inspiration?

[Jack...]

Actually, the inspiration was the empty bench in the photo. Thank you for reading

[Acucena G.]

you are welcome, I hope you read mine too , have a wonderfull day

[SilentScreamingTears]

This is a feeling I understand very well. There was I person that I cared about for a long while and have, still, not the courage to tell the person.

[Jack...]

Thank you for reading. Don't wait too long, for you just may find that you are too late.

[SilentScreamingTears]

I'm already too late.

[Sld0208]

I tend to like reading fiction more than poems, but I loved this. This stanza is by far my favorite:
If I carve our initials in this wooden bench,
sturdy as it may be,
would that brand me a fool?

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much. I appreciate you stepping out of your normal reading routine to read my poem.

[jerrypat]

A sad state of affairs for sure is the projection the words of this poem. To be held tongue-tied by the mere presence of one so lovely that has to be agony.

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much.

[Zahra]

Sitting here I wonder,
these clouds of grey overhead,
do they speak my name in full syllables
or will the sun find me, waiting,
wishing that I could say?

Perfect imagery and flow. I don't know if I can relate or not, but it sings so close to my heart. Wonderful.

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much

[SM Davis]

Lovely piece! Mechanically, it is sound. Imagery is fantastic and it flows very nicely when I read it aloud. It is reserved but telling all at the same time. Vulnerability is its strength and aesthetically it is pleasing.

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much.

[SM Davis]

you are quite welcome. :0)

[Ees]

I was hesitant to read this poem, because I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to relate as I so rarely find myself rendered unable to speak.

This line was pretty cool: "Endless thoughts paint abstract on this soul"

Well written poem. For me, it may have gotten caught up in the weather for a little too long. I was longing for it to take you to your point. That is prob a matter of personal taste, but I thought I would share, just in case it gives you a certain perspective of this piece of writing that you were wondering about.

That all said... I wrote a poem a while ago called "Dear Sir"- I feel like that is the very other end of this poem. It's about waiting for that sir to say something or do something, because I am a girl, I'll only wait. I expect the man to take the reins. Maybe that is what this other person is doing, just waiting in knowing that they'll not be the one to call the shots.

[Jack...]

Thank you so much. This situation, I feel, happens often as does the opposite that you describe. It is kind of funny to think about, he sitting there nervous about speaking to her, and her wanting nothing more than for him to speak to her. Thanks again.

[Ees]

I am sure it is a common situation.
That's because it's the man's job! hahaha
Welcome, nice job!

[Matt Millsaps]

DEPTH! Your poem is full of it! Very well written. The imagery from this poem is fantastic. The picture is a great compliment as well! Thanks so much for sharing! I look forward to seeing what else you may develop!

[Jack...]

Thank you so much

[Harrisen Viator]

I know the feeling so well, and I love the imagery that you provide, it gives such a detailed picture of what is going on in this poem.

'You have taken my voice
It rests within your hands, for it is yours

My pulse races, my palms sweat,
I want to tell you, yet…

I sit within this silence,

unable to speak'

These last few lines are what sold it for me. I hate the feeling of wanting to say something, but nothing will come out.

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much