POETRY

The Persistence of Musing

Free Verse poem

O these bitter pills! I am divorced divorced from all my demons but my muse too! And then the silence the unbearable din of silence so loud, so loud my ears ring from its Delphian melody I grow accustomed to the dead air a synthetic lull — days become weeks and then months the delicate balancing of my brain a tight-rope act — ever so careful and I wait

Slowly my mind acclimates and the silence becomes stillness the din, white noise — Hushed sighs I hear you breathing these bitter pills have not murdered you but I strain against the fog for each murmur you utter O Catharine! And there you are, my fallen angel my dark child Your words soak into my bones softly, quickly — you have much to say for beating against your wings, frenzied the demonic bats await

And the cycle begins anew I swallow more pills brace for the cacophony of silence the numbness of calm the peace, I am assured will come and I mourn the loss of your sighs your tranquil whispers — but I know you will keep trying and I will reach for your voice over and over and over again ’til death overshadows me

©2020 Lori Carlson. All Rights Reserved.

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Lori Carlson writes poetry, fiction, personal essays, creative non-fiction, and articles. She focuses on Spirituality, Life Lessons, Self-Awareness, Relationships, Mental Health, and LGBTQ+. She is the Owner/Editor of Promptly Written and Not For Bedtime Stories. You can find her older stories on her creative writing blog, Ravyne’s Nest and random ramblings on her personal blog, A Delicious Torment.