the talkers rampage

round her silence

 

they want her to be an ear not a mouth

let them unload

let them spill

she says 

 

sometimes it’s more

one-sided 

than the confessional

 

a foot on her tongue

delicately placed

 

the deafening acoustics

of monologue 

 

the overlaying

the interruption

 

she wanted to tell them

when it comes to bonding

it is better to listen —

 

taking is more sought after

than giving

 

as diction eloped

she feared growing mute

 

found herself stuttering

when faced

with a question

 

her vocal chords

threatened to shrivel

 

until she forced

the words back

into their seats

 

made them stand up

if only for seconds

 

hoped 

one day 

an ear not lips

would be bent towards her