SILENCE
The best part was the silence
lying thick and warm around us, rich
with the years of talk and laughter,
yet light enough
to set aside in a moment.
How has it happened
that silence has taken this other form, heavy,
a grey blanket bulging with ominous outlines,
objects neither dares to uncover?
We hide our fear
with carefully managed chatter,
finally exhausted as both
stare in horror at those shapes,
willing them to lie low, each dreading
to be the first to lift a corner.