In silence the city rings out its warnings.
No trains shall pass here, no planes, no cars,
nothing but bullets sent into the sulk of fear.
Solitude is a gallows, a choking gibbet
The stillness causes my head to scream
“I need, I must have, ain’t got no…”
nothing to show; only a whispered prayer of solicitation;
“please God don’t close the liquor store!”
Christmas morning wasn’t this quiet,
this is no gift; this absence of sound.
Sleep, sleep is crushed with fearsome dreams.
Quarantined, the ghetto silently screams.
© M Durfee
3/24/2020
I have very clear memories of ’67 Detroit under martial law. At no time from then to now has the ghetto been this quiet at 3 am.
No trains shall pass here, no planes, no cars,
nothing but bullets sent into the sulk of fear.
Solitude is a gallows, a choking gibbet
The stillness causes my head to scream
“I need, I must have, ain’t got no…”
nothing to show; only a whispered prayer of solicitation;
“please God don’t close the liquor store!”
Christmas morning wasn’t this quiet,
this is no gift; this absence of sound.
Sleep, sleep is crushed with fearsome dreams.
Quarantined, the ghetto silently screams.
© M Durfee
3/24/2020
I have very clear memories of ’67 Detroit under martial law. At no time from then to now has the ghetto been this quiet at 3 am.
Quiet should not produce fear but calm.
ReplyDeleteThat is not the quiet we know now.
Your poem here perfectly represents now.
Thank you Jean and the one thing about fear is it needs a subscription for it to enter--it is the vampire of emotion.
DeleteI have been reflecting on the uncomfortable silence of this moment in time as I view images of deserted urban landscapes--you nail its peculiar, anxiety-producing quality. I only hope it's not followed by a noise of violence or wailing grief,or something even less predictable as this disaster unfolds. Take good care, Mark.
ReplyDeleteThe resolve to remain alive and whole has quickly dissipated here Joy. Fools have been gathering at parks and peoples houses thinking they will live if infected and nothing can tell them where and what they cannot do.
DeleteThey make it harder on folks who have the resolve to follow the quarantine---it can now be nerve wracking to go out for the groceries. Wayne County Mi is full of idiots.
I'm doing one of those "essential" jobs in our hospital, friend Mark. Not very quiet on many levels. I have managed to stay healthy so far. Wishing you health as well. Love, cat.
ReplyDelete... meow:) Love, cat
DeleteOh health and well being to you as well Meowmomma. Stay safe and thank you!
DeletePowerful words, Walking Man. Scary times we're living in.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
One would think that the immediate fear would pass and lead to more rational responses Jeff--sadly in Detroit it seems to have led to a wholesale rejection of the order to quarantine. Morons.
Delete