Friday, March 4, 2016

Jeremiah's lament


After Jeremiah 20:9

No one listens. I will embrace
silence. I will speak
no more. I will seal my lips
so no one can hear, no one
will hear. No one’s ears
will burn.

The words I will not speak
consume my heart, a fire
burns and sears my heart.

The words I will not speak
course through my bones, a fire
fed and burning from the inside
out.

The words I will not speak
will not bear imprisonment;
the fire pours out, unstoppable,
consuming even
if none listen
to the molten river.


Photograph by Caroline Steinhauer via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.