Wordless Drive Home Poem by Deborah Mach

then
wordless
no thoughts uttered
fan sounds emitting
white noise
irritates the
mind

distant
life sounds
birdsong in flight
wind through branches
barred an entrance
to muted
chambers

talk dried up
stiffness, reserve
chilled by innuendo
misconstrued
messages
obscured

too,
weary to
try to unriddle
ruts, and tracks in
concrete set
tug of war
each side
equal

again,
the picking
and the pecking
nibbling and quibbling
retreat, regroup
remorse,
repent

sorrowed visage,
silent kiss arms thrown down
to pride, to self hands are lifted in
compassion, other first
we try afresh