Language Barrier

Sullen skies just a reflection of my mood
Don't want to be here, don't want to talk.
Need to be alone with my thoughts now,
Try to calm the turmoil in my soul.

Gotta find the right words to hide behind .
I'm humble before their power to connect.
"Loose lips sink ships," the saying goes.
But my lips are always sealed watertight.

Everything comes together in my head,
But somewhere along the path to my mouth,
Those poor little words get waylaid-
Maybe the big bad wolf eats them up.

Can't seem to speak the language,
But when I pick up a pen, the words just flow.
They scramble together like magic ink,
Revealing my thoughts, ideas, and emotions.

The synchronicity between pen and mind
Is a wondrous event to behold-
I use it to facilitate my escape
From the dreary dungeon of silence.

Feel like I can write the "Great American Novel,"
And share everything I have locked inside,
But as soon as I open my rebellious mouth,
My tongue takes a permanent vacation.

Karen Dean Salter
10/31/06-11/05/06