Stolen Voice

Stolen Voice

...an ode to silence...

I inhale slowly,
then push the air upward,
over my vocal cords.

But all that comes out
are some pops and squeaks,
like an old and favorite song,
familiar in tempo and tenor,
yet missing the expected notes.

Who or what stole my voice?
I honestly don't know.

If it's an infection,
it lacks a fever and congestion.

If it's acid reflux,
I'm not experiencing heartburn.

If it's the climate,
I can't remember better weather.

What could it be?
Stress? Strain? A virus?

I never fully understood
the power of a voice
until I lost mine.

---

Silence is as deep as eternity,
speech as shallow as time.
~ Thomas Carlyle

---