Shalom Freedman (Troy New York)

A night passes in a Silenceless Torment
Even the most beautiful songs
Cannot quell the restlessness-

There are times when one is not born for this
Or any other world-

Dissatisfaction restlessness frustration
Cannot yield the best poetry-

Tormented songs repeat themselves
What was once beautiful
Now irritates as relentless noise-

There is the need for a different kind of beauty
A song from within that no external song can give-

I want silence
No other song
Only silence
Silence and more silence
A poetry of silence
Or even a silence without poetry
Silence
The kind of silence in which the torment has ended
Sleep perhaps
Silence silence
Please.