Unmentioned

Unmentioned

Although you may feel tied up in a knot
there are somethings
you don’t talk about
You think about them a lot
but you don’t bring them up

You could write a book
but then
you end up talking about them
all the way to their root

-Friendly fire
War rubbles and ruins
The sight of soldiers with scary weapons
about whose meanings
we don’t need to enquire
Ammunition depots exploding
Malaria
AIDS
Viruses
Sons who did not return-
How foreboding

-Uncles who lost their minds
Fathers who could not cope-
You now grasp the scope

Things you don’t talk about
but still
you see in front of your eyes
-Frightening confrontations
Children afraid to leave home-
It shouldn’t be a surprise

-No water
No corn to roast
to make coffee
Is there any food?
No toilet
Love misunderstood
Grandparents sweating sacrifices
Aimless walks
Remembering demises
Thirst to find what’s missing
Some friend who wounded your arm
with the sharp end
of your own top spinning
Or the other one
who broke your heart
with self-righteousness
And those with special needs-
Your only happiness

-The selfless gift of someone
you didn’t even know
Those beautiful taps on your shoulders
Some one who loves you profoundly-
soothing the beholders

Things you see in front of your eyes
We all have things
we rather not talk about
That is no surprise

You know you are
who you were
You know you were
who you are
and there are things
you don’t want to speak about