POEM: In the Silence

        

                                           In the Silence       

There is a silence that seems to want to haunt me causing my mind to wonder

Different worlds seems to appear with memories of long ago

Certain places brings me back to a time I lived care-free

 The sun shined so brightly even on rainy days for nothing would stop it from bringing in the warmth

It seems now that it always pours with no sunlight for days on end

Searching for moments of joy and laughter yet finding nothing but just pain and sorrow

Outside the window there are children playing in the puddles just laughing with every droplet of rain

My eyes and ears only hold the fear of what that rain will bring

In the distance there is a stray cat running to find shelter noticing that a homeless man shares the little that he has

The cat slowly approaches taking a chance from this man’s kindness, curling up close to him but keeping aware

Warmth I have for a better shelter there is for me, yet there is no stray I offered space to keep it away from the rain

Around me there gleams beauty that once brought joy, now only memories of pain it holds

Letting go of those times in the past seems to hold me from running towards a new world, a new life

Run I try with all my might but no further does the distance come to be

There seems to be no direction on how I can escape what use to be

The silence again comes even in my dreams as am getting further and deeper into the sea

A hollow shell enveloping me to keep me from drowning

It seems not to bring me any closer to the safety of the shore

Awaken I become when the light from the window streams on my face

Still the feeling of darkness lingers inside of me like an unwanted guest

Where can I run too where can I escape too when all the places hold memories of a life that is no more

Thoughts keep rushing of the “what ifs” yet no answers have come to be

Here I am crying to the world but in silence I continue to still remain

There in the distance I again see the homeless man and the stray cat keeping each other company and warm, than I ask myself if there will be someone to guide me to safety and will I be able to allow it to be

For there in the silence I will now have to be until I find that place of peace

Written by:    Maria Elena Padron on April 26, 2023