Whereof One Cannot Speak Poem by gershon hepner

Whereof one cannot speak but must
be silent constantly
concerns the troubles of the just,
though everyone can see
that there is very little right
about this world, for one
must flinch and hold one’s tongue, not fight
a fight that can’t be won.

Thereof one must be silent, for
if one should speak instead
words cannot penetrate the core
of what must not be said,
and though I write it would be better
if I abstained and left
each word I write and every letter
deprived, of sound bereft.


5/26/98