incredible what silence

can do

i am standing by this frameless window,

staring,

into the darkness.

there's a woman in the room across

pacing about,

naked.

and i wonder if she thinks a stranger

might be looking.

and down i look, into the street

where once i stood with a boy

as mum watched me

from this window, a rod

in her hand

waiting

for me to be done,

for me to be home.

and i wondered if

to tell her

that this stranger boy waits every night

in this dark street

to ask my number and never take no

for a answer.

but she had a rod in her hand

and i feared her more than stranger boy.

and now i'm standing here

by this frameless window

staring into the darkness,

chirping crickets, generators on in

every apartment,

and it's me against my thoughts,

fighting, as memories come flooding

and i think it is

incredible

what silence can do