Nothing speaks for me
tonight
Not a poem,
a note, or my
silence
I just want to be heard:
a head nod
a hand touch
a heart throb
Anything
to let me know
you hear me
But you don’t
Instead, you listen
to them
like you do
Full eyes, full lips
mostly open arms
Greeting each one
anew
But not me
I always, in all ways
held your baggage
opened doors
crossed the walk
to make sure you didn’t get splashed
but you just couldn’t see
Nothing speaks for me
anymore
Not 257 pages
or five volumes of poetry
or those 1,328 people
who mark themselves
my Friends
They are not here
to say a word
They don’t lay in my bed
Stare at my ceiling
Or dry the tears
I cried last night
Nothing speaks for me
again
So don’t judge me
by my actions
my words
or these grandiose ideas
That seem to fill
my head, my heart
Instead,
look to your God to
give you grace
ease your conscience
heal your wounds
from the things you
convinced yourself
I had done
And when you’re eating
vegetarian
or drinking good wine
I will whisper to you
no more
Because nothing speaks for me
ever again
starting
Now.
Adam F.C. Fletcher 