in the church bells i hear the silence
serenity and peace i have forgotten
calm
cool
solidity
where each heartbeat is that much longer
each breathe that much deeper
where there is me
no one else
no expectations
no confusion
no commitments
just heartbeat and breathe
and my voice

the dogs of war are silent
and i can figure out what i think
where i'll go
what i'll do
what i'm doing

they deafen with their roar
and my little voice is hoarse from tears
rage over what we lost
as i watched the screen that day
as history changed in a storm
my life seemed so much less significant
mundane details just taking up space
laughter tainted
tears meaningless
my own grief nothing
heartsick and loss
my own peace not the nation's
the nation's not mine

yet i became more solid as
the pieces fell away
fateful day


back
2001, jessicarane