“Too Close to Nothing”
A gentle whisper
As I mouthed my intentions
To see if you’d listen
A wordless lip gesture
To see if you’d understand
To see if you’d pick up
My message
And did you?
Your eyes were open
So I slathered my intentions upon them
To get a reaction
From you, out of you
But I didn’t
Get a reaction
From you, or out of you
So I broke my silent stance
And shouted as loud as my lungs would let me
And then I waited, and waited
OH how I waited
For you
To say something, anything
But you gave me nothing, not a thing
And you did hear me…didn’t you?
You must have, for I saw you flinch
But maybe, just maybe, it was just a coincidence
So maybe, just maybe you didn’t
Hear me that is
And maybe just maybe, neither did I
Hear myself that is
Maybe, just maybe
It was a mere figment
Of someone’s imagination
And maybe, just maybe
What I thought was something
Was actually nothing
Not one single thing
Aurally speaking
Or not speaking as was the case
For there was neither noun
Nor verb
Not even a single breath
But how can that be
It doesn’t make any sense
For I shouted as loudly as I could
This burning in my throat is proof of that
And if I have to shout again
Then I will
Just to prove it
To…myself
Actually, on second thought
After a near instantaneous re-evaluation
I rescind that boisterous offer
Too fearful that if I try
That everything that I want confirmed
And acknowledged
Won’t be
Or that I’ll open up my mouth
And nothing will come out
And then what will I do?