silence poem #1
people sing about silence write
about silence there must be space
between words between sounds
different silences have different
meanings some you know are
coming and you wait for – one that
will be coming soon I first heard
(or did not hear) was when I was
at my first messiah concert age 12
at the end of the overture comes
a long pause – six, seven seconds –
and then the tenor sings his first
words comfort ye comfort ye my
people it is that pregnant waiting
silence that affects my heart, guts
more than any hallelujah chorus –
all my life I have sung in played in
listened to this oratorio it is those
silent seconds I hold my breath for
©2016 Jacqueline Jackson
This article appears in Dec 15-21, 2016.
