On Being Silenced

When I was in my thirties I wanted to write the truth about everything, no matter how painful.  And it was important that I did write and share.   Now that I’m in my sixties, that is not so interesting to me.  I want to write more about the sound of the dry leaves falling from the trees on this warm early fall day, about being still and listening.

On Being Silenced

Am I the only one whose husband has had an affair?

or am I the only one talking about it?

my husband did have an affair

and while it was going on

I wrote about it

I wrote the truth

the whole truth

and then I shared it

shared it with everyone

every chance I got

and you know what happened?

I don’t think he liked it very much

that I did that

that I shared my poetry

how interesting, I thought

and I said,

but, darling, have you done something you’re ashamed of?

after all,

you expected me to handle it

certainly you can handle my

simply

writing poetry about it.

©1983