After Death's Silence Joseph Lisowski

Fighting the Prescription

Words slam against the roof of my mouth
before my tongue can move.
I try harder but feel nothing
except a steel lid no words can lift.
A desperate moaning below—
then a slide down a ravenous cliff
where there is keening.

I fall in darkness thick as sludge.
I strain to reach the lead cap of my heart.
I put my palm on it and feel a faint beat

now recorded.

 
CoverPrevious PoemNext Poem 2River