Silence

Edmund De Waal

Silence
Just sitting, crouching, in a corner.
Silence desired [please].
It sinks in, gaining weight, heavy like deep water pressure.

Little ideas start pinching the brain.
go away please.
But silence encourages them.
They wiggle, expanding into provocations. 

The heart starts moving blood faster.
The silence gets bolder, noisier.
Thoughts start to tumble on themselves;
multiplying uncontrollably.

That quiet silence is now a tumultuous raucous.
But nothing has changed.
Still sitting, crouched, in a corner.
Crave for a silence, absorb the noise
and in the balance, find heart.

- this poem was sent to Washington -