Confined To Silence

A child waits with the shameless below
The spaces are still in the vision
Crouched together
Faded into the grey distance
Yet I see them lying over there

Frozen they stand
Silence can hear these voices
Fear and concern for one’s self-preservation
Watch from afar
Trembling hands falling down
I catch one more breath
Hope the next time brings courage

Carefully worded phrases
Withered choices hold back my tongue
So confined by restriction
I do what is best for the time
Hearing what needs to be seen
Following me to these dreams

Moving past on the line
Never dry in winds
Hard to forget / forgive
Painful thoughts in my head
Do I take the needed step
Dressing wounds that won’t heal
Taste of hate is bitter sweet
Future guilt as a strong deterrent watching me

Weighed down by the chains of life
Who is this man? I know that it can’t be me
Won’t see myself or my mind
Lost in the dread of it all