silence

sometimes i wish i could just choke it
and the tension will be all over when i do
more often though i feel it necessary
to say nothing at all: just look at you
and everyone as we converse in our own little worlds
of gestures and professions of faith and love
and justice and what is right and holier than thou
and we realize that we have silence
stronger than actions and louder than words
no need to speak, all the reason to feel
it never wants to end, it seems
it makes us think of things we never have before
makes us see the things we took for granted before
makes us cry and laugh and frighten our own selves as before
such power has silence
as i wonder if you’re thinking the same thing i am
and we spontaneously and coincidentally do the same thing
we thank the silence that transpired.