The Sounds of Silence Challenge

The bliss of temperance when it occurred
it was a wish, a dream that came along
the stopper on the bottle was secured
the quiet from the ever throbbing throng

 Clean the clutter, restriction that confines
to rest the heart in the evenings sweet amen
recline among, placid gardens swinging vines
 waking slumber, comes like a long lost friend

Surround me, rest my bones in placid times
my mental state its fabric rent, tired
and bathe my restless heart and troubled mind
know faith will be the liniment desired

 My prayers will be the silent catalyst
Church is hushed in reverence, is a gift

 

I heard creaking on the floor-boards    
as if a ghost passed through my room,    
and sensed the musty old sash-cords    
and heard the cuckoo's two-tone tune.    
Beyond the city's constant boom    
far back to some forgotten past    
that exists in the mind of this loon    
I heard slick-click, of an iron door-latch,    
    
Then, breezes shushered in the mown meadow      
and the sound of unknown song birds,  
the scent of cut grass made me mellow      
by that peaceful past, long unheard,    
and memories of lowing herds    
this clattering of arriving milk,    
the whole ensemble, resonant of cellos,    
so smoothly cool as ancient silk...    
     
But they surrounded my land with city sound    
they bounce it off concrete,    
they've made it reverberate and bound    
as the tore up my peaceful street,    
nigh near made hell on earth complete      
as upwards concrete units soar,    
but I heard the creaking of floor-boards    
so I guess, death, yeah, will seem a treat?

 
I go to my happy place, I go to my garden to center myself
steam rises off the trees after it rains
they are alive and sigh relief
to be washed clean of smog they can now breathe

the weeds on the lawn are wild flowers to me
bloom where planted as Pastor Murray would say
that's what I believe, but I don't like this technological era
I think we're moving to fast you see

the winds tell me to let it all out on exhale
while chimes quietly tinkle in the background
and the song birds tell me it's a new day

the sun is shining and the morning dew reminds me we are brand new
the problems of the previous day wash down my back
not to forget the wisdom I've learned, but hold them dear

I know our creator is here
I see him in nature more so than any other place
because as ugly as this world can be
I am reminded of his grace

beautiful face of the Father reflected in the sun
I go to my happy place, yes I go to my garden
when I want to praise

Alarmed at how I sound on the phone,
my friend drives three hours south just to check on me
and in doing so, manages to beat the ambulance.
It's 2 am when we finally arrive,
but the hospital never sleeps.
While the rest of the town snores peacefully,
A & E is a hive of activity.
And the noise: so much noise!
The TV is on but nobody is watching.
There's loud music blaring from somewhere,
alarms beeping in the background,
conversations between patients and their carers
and the buzz of healthcare professionals
going about their jobs.

Pretty quickly,
the medics decide on a plan of action
and move me to Urgent Treatment Room 2.
It's a relief; there are only three beds in here,
giving me time and space to de-stress
while nimble hands organise swift treatment.
It's much quieter
until the whirring of my nebuliser
draws my attention to its twin,
keepin my roommate alive.
Nobody chats as the two of us
fight to recover.

It's difficult to rest
on an inclined examination couch
but I curl up and try to sleep.
It's then that the cacophony fully kicks in.
Whether the noise has really just started
or I hadn't noticed it before,
it's not quiet in here at all!
I can still hear the crying of sick infants
coming from the waiting room;
staff passing through, running tests and observations.
Torrential rain thrums against the rooftop
and some idiot thought it a good idea
to give a harmonica to a child.
Then, Miss Broken Ankle is wheeled into the room
and on to the middle bed, between the two asthmatics.
Her entourage follows; an ever-changing parade of staff.
Sleep eludes me,
so I try my best to control what I can,
and concentrate on my breathing.
My roommate's in distress
and needs another round of treatments.

At some point, I drop off for 45 minutes.
When I awake, it's cooler and quieter;
the Broken Ankle has been moved to surgery
and somewhere nearby,
a child still plays a harmonica.

His talk was about all things.
Of small gusts passing by,
away, on a gray afternoon.

Deep in the haunted mirror.
For he had come like the morning of a day,
when the world that existed was august
and it was slowly entering September.

Gold leaf and silence in our eyes.
This is how he looked to me:
A wild shadow of the forest,
full of whispers and mystery.

I looked into his calm eyes,
and all my heart was his...
And all my heart, still, was his,
like a sunset at sunrise.
I found him dancing like a leaf,
and singing like a bird.

He remained silent
and became my silence.
I felt it run through my veins
no rumors, no echoes,
as if the universe were talking to me.

I was as alone as I've ever felt
in the lonely land or in the violet sky.
Mixture of all things happy and sad.
So sad laughing eyes.

The plum blossom that falls so delicately.
And the world, which still smelled of April,
burned its way into May.
Silent fire from the ground.
In his dark eyes, I saw a star.

My man who came from the land of fairies.


PAR

Anxiety dances under my skin
to a discordant melody
and today the only thing  
that has settled it  
Is silence
 
The bus was almost empty
the radio was off
no one spoke  
and the engine hummed gently
 
For the first time in a week  
it felt like I could breathe  
 
I wanted to stay out today
but the world is too harsh  
and bright and loud  
so instead I'm going to seek peace
and follow the silence back home  
where I can rest  
and breathe easy again  
 
 
 

Each swig of solitude
A breath less from death,
Drinking to absent friends
One day the bottle will rise to me.
 
Summer is now a tourist:
A buckled deck chair rehearses its return
Crumpled against shadows of the palest sun.
Cathedrals of veiled water fall as weeping brides.
 
On other side of the village
The Luftwaffe unloaded lonely bomb,
Crater housed Gods of still small voices –
Until they built a car park.
 
Touring a Monastic and Mauna museum
Vowed to hang silence on souvenir walls,
Further awash, axe head in the river’s silver
Hear hammer thunder in the flood.
 
Imagination hovers, aimless as
Swallows nesting on a satellite.
My foot breaks bracken, SNAP -
Skin of earth’s timpani stretches.
 
Seduced by naked allure of her stare  
An afternoon affair with the woman in white.
Faithful to her kith, kin and centuries wise,
I return to stoned ghosts and rattling noise.

The music of silence, so pure and so true
It fills the air, yet it's hard to pursue
It's not something you hear
But rather a feeling that fills you with cheer

It's the absence of noise, the stillness of sound
A peaceful reprieve, a moment unbound
From the chaos of life, the hustle and bustle
The music of silence, a beautiful mussel

It's the rustle of leaves, the chirping of birds
The gentle breeze, the soothing words
It's the quiet moments, the calm after the storm
The music of silence, a comfort reborn

So take a moment, and listen with care
To the music of silence, so rare and so fair
Embrace the quiet, let go of the noise
And let the music of silence, be your joy and your poise

I am at the beach; the golden sand warms up my bare feet as the calm ocean waves cool them off in return. I take in a deep breath and exhale slowly. The salty air acts as a disinfectant for all of the wounds that I carry with me; wounds that have not healed all the way.

The sun is setting, but it is not a sign of unhappiness; it is a sign of new beginnings. I'm leaving my past behind to move forward to a bright, yet unknown future. The thought thrills me as for once, I have no idea what will be around the corner. Despite my slight insecurities, I am at ease with that fact. I have worked hard to get where I am, and I will continue to do so for the rest of my life.

It has been quite the eventful pilgrimage these past eighteen years. There were moments of joy and hope, but also moments of darkness and despair. I suffered, just like anyone else has. I was just a quiet little girl; there was not much I could have done. Later on, however, my experience allowed me to grow stronger as a person. So for those people who made my life a misery, if you are reading this, then know that you can't affect my life. You are but a mere pest, however, I will never forget what you have done to me…

The cool breeze comforts me as I feel my negative thoughts slip away. A soft smile appears on my face as I enjoy the feeling of bliss. They cannot hurt me; not anymore.

A seagull soars through the open sky, completely free to do whatever it wishes. My spirit is like the bird; free of all the burdens that I had to carry with me while growing up. It lifts me up so high that I feel like I am on top of the world.

With the scenery around me, I cannot help but feel happy; my whole life has been one chaotic emotional roller-coaster, and now, it seems to be calming down. I still freak out, but it is good for once.

The sun has completely disappeared beyond the horizon, and the moon comes in its place. The dim light catches my eye and I smile at my figurative mother. Luna; my ruling planet. It has affected me my whole life, just like it affects our mother Earth. I am a child of the ocean; so quiet and delicate, but loyal and affectionate deep down. This is me; nothing can change me.

The moon lights up the pathway for me. Its mere presence gives me boundless confidence for what I have to do. My journey will be long, and at times difficult, but I will make it across the sea. One day.