so quietly i sit and strain to hear

so quietly i sit and strain to hear
before his door, where always there was sound
no sound comes from that room, no one is here

all nightmares end, the waking ends the fear
in hopes it was a dream, he's still around
so quietly i sit and strain to hear

yet this worst nightmare's permanent I fear
his absent voice does haunt me all around
no sound comes from that room, no one is here

most harsh denial, darting eyes now leer
to catch a glimpse of him, a sighing sound
so quietly i sit and strain to hear

the things we covet pale before the mere
vibrations--sound and life, now nowhere found
no sound comes from that room, no one is here

the present sounds are sobbings, burning tears
the former sounds are hushed, deep underground
so quietly i sit and strain to hear
no sound comes from that room, no one is here

(C)2008, Christos Rigakos