Silent Sage

In the silence of her full-lips, I heard
My Self drowned!
Whilst speaking the darkest truth
Truthful black lips
Teaching in abject darkness
“Truth is to be said not to be heard”
Thus in reverence
A thousand sages on their knees

Wafting above the untruth aloft
Wordless love of her black lips
A silent voice bestowed upon my soul
Eternal uttering the truth
Albeit my lips moveless
Thus in reverence
A thousand sages on their knees

Once for one briefest of all moments
When I became one with her full-lips
When my words became her true words
Truth been unveiled and I care not if ever
My words to be heard
Speaketh the darkest truth
Truthful black lips
Careth not for any ears
Immovable black lips
Thus in reverence
A thousand sages on their knees

And when the doves of betrayal
Foraging the blight of this world
Truthful most black lips
Wings for my falcon
Flying off to pursue to hunt to kill
Dove after dove, untruth after untruth
Thus in reverence
A thousand sages on their knees

And when my last words left her fullest sable lips
And when her Asian-Caribbean eyes, cast down
I enrobed her silence
Eminent gown of honor
And shines upon my grave
Her prostrating darkness
Adorning the walls of my tomb
Thus in reverence
A thousand sages on their knees


Background: Haitian mother with daughter on her lap and son at her side, patiently
wait for their turn to see the American doctors at a small clinic. Haiti 1997.


© 2004-2002 Dara O. Shayda