“I know what you’re
hungry for”
he says
with blood-shot eyes
and yellowed teeth
he stands before me
waiting
holding out a pen
“I know what you’re
hungry for”
he says
he wants me to begin
but he pulls the pen away
and I am left
to ache once
again
for the words
that never come
for the silence
that never goes
“Insomniac!”
he accuses and
laughs in my face
but still I cannot get close
I cannot begin
he waits for me
to stop him
he waits for
me to yell
but I am
alone and
voiceless
here in my
self-appointed hell
“heretic!”
he calls me
he knows that
I’m insane
he knows that
writing is
all I have
to ease this
precious
pain
still he does not
give up
still he does not
give in
when will he
ever let me
begin
01/24/00
©Patti Keno
these words written
Invisible No More 