549. Unheard

Words are torturous,

They bleed from the tongue,

And stain the speaker,

With songs unsung.

For thieves steal,

And sadists rend,

Each thought and phrase,

To savor or spend.

Speech is perilous,…

And overrated,

As mouths full of blood,

Become tasteless, and hated.

Unable to speak,

Coagulated throats suffocate,

On loneliness and misery,

And festering hate.

Words are torturous,

They bleed from the tongue,

Until they choke the speaker,

With thoughts unstrung,

Unheard,…

Unsung.

K. Aldaya, 6/15/21

Picture: By Rots Marie-Helene on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/kLxCNB2JIyI

496. Stained

photo-1482263231623-6121096b0d3f

I know there is no middle ground.

Once something hidden is found,

It can not go and hide again;

And if some things aren’t tolerable then…

Not being honest means being accepted,

And being honest means being rejected.

Now it’s too late, and I’m riddled with fear.

Will I lose all that I hold dear?

I used to have nothing to lose.

Now I feel that I must choose:

Be selfish and hurt those I love,

Or be selfless and never rise above…

The pain.

Everything I touch, I stain.

K. Aldaya, 10/9/19

Picture: By Ian Espinosa on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/oXo6IvDnkqc