Silence surrounds me
as a fortress surrounds a castle
strong, impenetrable, imposing
warding off attacks
from all sides
silence surrounds me
I am safe
and alone.
~~~~~
While I was cleaning up my drawer, I found this draft of a poem that I wrote more than a decade ago when I was single, working, and full of angst. I guess I liked this so much that I saved the paper on which it was drafted and included it among the documents that I brought with me when I migrated to the States. Coincidentally, the prompt in POETRY JAM is about Silence, specifically, something that responds to the lyrics of Simon and Garfunkel’s Sound of Silence. I decided to post the poem and link it up not only for the joy of linking up but to preserve a work from long ago. And yes, I posted the poem as I have found it. 🙂 These days, I might be writing about silence differently and indeed, I had some ideas but the words just would not come.
Thank you for coming by. Please visit Poetry Jam and the lovely writers who contributed their work. 🙂 Happy day. (We’re off to celebrate my husband’s finding his wallet with driver’s license by eating out in a buffet place. Oh, what a morning!) 🙂
MY WALL 
It captures a moment beautifully; and, though you might have a different take it now, silence is comforting and that probably remains consistent. Bravo!
Those thoughts probably hold true for everyone at some point…
I think it is wonderful that you shared something your wrote long ago
and something that you somehow knew to bring with you to America.
You show people that what you wrote was you back then, and while you’d
write something different now, that is okay…and perfect.
Thank you for sharing…an important lesson for many writers.
Peace
Siggi
PS…and am happy your husband found his wallet…intact…it so seldom happens.
Siggi
Silence really can surround a person and CAN ward off attacks. I understand that. There is safety in silence, even though sometime silence is uncomfortable and unwanted. There are two sides of the coin with silence!
Oh, and so glad you found Poetry Jam! Hope to see you next time as well!!
Lovely metaphor… glad to see you!
I read the poem before your explanation and thought you were writing about the kids being in school giving you peace and quiet 🙂
I have the opportunity to enjoy silence coz I am always alone, but I find the peace and the beauty too in being alone. Silence with God is precious:)
Silence is so rare. My children are in bed, so you’d think it would be silent. When I listen, I hear my fan, traffic passing by, and cicadas from the open window. Now that I think about it, the cicadas don’t stop for traffic either.
I have felt like this in the past, too. Silence can be a fortress that keeps us safe, but alone.
This also reminds me of the lyrics from another Simon & Garfunkel song “I am a rock, I am an island. And a rock feel no pain and an island never cries”. You have evoked a lot of emotion in these few lines.
Safety can be within the silence that we treasure. Enjoy the quite and feel refreshed. I love this.
silence can def be that safe place and provide comfort and protection for us….
Silence can be tranquil and comforting. Cool you found this to share! Hope you enjoyed the celebratory meal 🙂
The silence in this poem felt lonely and sad. Now, I suspect it might be more contented, with your loving family.
… and alone.
What an ending to turn everything previously written on its ear!
Thanks for the kind words, Margaret. 🙂 It does get a bit lonely when one does not want to talk to anybody and shuts everybody out.
You’ve been a writer all along! I wish to find some of my old stuff stashed down in the basement. It’s fun to see what we did decades ago of a different time and perspective. I hope you no longer feel that silence and solitude in life now, and I’m glad that your hubby found his wallet. 🙂