Goya's Hush Poem by Raj Arumugam

Hush, there are things
that must not be said
for the world's not the same
There are desires
that burn marks in the flesh
and age must creep into silence


Hush, for the only utterings
these days
must be mutterings with
a rosary in hand
There are fantasies
that stand out
like boils on the skin


Hush, and keep your eyes
down, weighed by back humps:
it is better not to know
There are monstrosities born
that come with death in arms
and babies born without innocence