"Harmful Sounds" Inspired by Six Crimson Cranes:

Harmful Sounds

Words were constant—

until I learned of the harm they could do

would do to my loved ones.

I held my tongue,

finding new ways to communicate necessities,

leaving out the chatter and complaints

that would have filled the air space around me

before.

My new-found silence

taught my words to be kinder

after taking away my thoughtlessness.

But then silence continued to take

to eat away at my spirit.

The silence demanded all that would harm

and all that would heal.

It stole my laughter and my words of love.

The silence hangs like a guillotine’s blade,

waiting for one word—

one joyful sound

one anguished cry

one calling of a name

one plea for help

one expression of gratitude

one uncontainable burst of love—

waiting to take it all away,

Using the absence of sound

to harm my soul.


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