SILENT VOICES: award winner

SILENT VOICES



As I lie down and sleep on
This vast and noisy world,
I wake to the one silent,
Full of voices, unheard:

Voices from the olden days,
When on childish errand,
Spotting a butterfly, I
Called aloud to my friend;

Voices from the soccer field,
Where as captain of team,
I shouted to my team-mates,
As my eyes had a gleam;

Voices, no, rather whispers,
A giggle and a sob,
As I snuggled up with my
Only love, my heart-throb;

Voices raging in the house,
Children in fight and play;
Shrill cry of my lovely wife,
During domestic fray.

Voice of my boss at the work,
Creating fuss and scenes,
Over and above the din
Of factory machines;

Voices of doctors during
Cataract and prostate
Surgery upon me in
A semiconscious state.

I’m now in an old age home,
Where I am all alone.
In dreams, these silent voices
Often do make me groan.


• Written in abcb 7-6-7-6 format

• Third place in "My Weekly Contest~Poetry's Prism" contest, "Poetry's Prism" , Round 100, April 2007



M C Gupta
15 June 2003