A Moment Of Silence
I.
Sound waves heighten as his bass of a voice controls her
his eyes gleam while jerking her like unraveling thread.
Her body turns limp with every verbal blow to her ears
his warm breath spiraling down her neck, into her pores.
She leaves to blot her eyes while he follows in fury.
Glass shatters across the floor as marble shards surround her
impairing her path to safety until blue lights flash outside.
Whirlpools of navy shirts and glossy shoes enter their home
and she watches him come down the stairs wearing handcuffs.
Truth is, she has been waiting for him to be taken by
the red alarms that flicker on, off like winning a prize of silence.
II.
I clutch my car keys wrapped in college lanyards.
Wheel grasped, I hear gravel crunch under the rolling tires
while classic rock on 105.5 blends into open window air.
I escape down I-20 and find comfort in the grinding of leaves.
Quarter-sized raindrops explode on the windshield
and I lay on the horn to warn others on the road.
I swerve around the bend, crying out in alarm
as my car rolls sideways like a metallic whirlpool.
I find shelter from the sky’s tears as I dangle upside-down
and my eyes flutter close to conceal me from the fog, the pain.
Red alarms flicker on, off as I finally achieve my silence.