“Running Time” by Victor Bezrukov
After the brutal way you departed
after the forgotten goodbye’s never said
after horror’s realization would not go away
after there was nothing left to enjoy
after the laughter fell silent and mute
after the sadness collected day upon day
after the spaces fell hauntingly empty
after the familiar grew distant and dead
after our time together faded far to the past
after the bitter taste of grief stung my lips
after the loneliness mounted unbearingly
after your memory spilled through my fingers too fast
I did not think you could go deaf in the quiet
I did not think sorrow would burrow in so far
didn’t think the screams in my head would turn to riot
nor did I know how deeply this silence would scar
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: The Sunday Muse
Poetry at: earthweal
Sometimes silence is the loudest thing. Wishing you a good weekend Rob. I love what you did with the image.
Isn’t that so true! And thank you Carrie. 🙂
Rob, this is awesome writing ….. I love how you drill down on an emotion, make it real for the reader. Take care.
Thank you Helen. I seem to go in that direction frequently. The moral of the story — a old format fir an old man.
Brilliant poem!!
Thank you so much Kim… 🙂
A powerful poem. So many emotions are woven in words.
Thank you Sunita.
This poem resonates with me – the depth of the grief, and the loss…….sorrow burrowing in so far. Beautifully and powerfully written.
Thank you Sherry.
Silence become a roar – hard to bear though we must. How did Jack Gilbert put it? “Grief makes the heart apparent.”
Boy, does it ever Brendan.
Silence sometimes hurts…I have felt the thorns of silence….sigh…I could feel your words…wishing you peace and calmness
Thank you True. I go into the hospital tomorrow at 9:00 AM to try to at last determine what I am dealing with currently in my CHF.
A silence that is palpable, a grief that is raw. Powerful and moving Rob.
Belated good luck for your hospital appointment.
Thanks Marion. Back for Echocardiogram this afternoon, nuclear stress test tomorrow, hopefully that indicates only an angioplasty heart procedure for Thursday with some stents — fingers crossed that is all I need. I have had three of those in the past ten years. No fun, but sure as hell beats open heart surgery. I already have a pacemaker.
Rob – no words…
🙂 David.
Beautifully written, Rob. Silence can scream.
Thank you Sara!
Grief digs deep in the soul, as you made very clear.
Hope all goes well in hospital.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Thank you Syl!