in the moment
before dawn
the space
between notes
like slipping through the silence
holding onto that split second
of after this heartbeat ends
and the next begins
(D. James)
Tag Archives: silence
searching in the dark
darkness falls
sudden and silent
like the end of days
or the beginning
the evening goes deaf
as the black crawls
across the sky
into and through spaces unseen
dots of light
on a velvet canvas
and the new moon rises
reflecting nothing
on the other side of the world
it is winter
and a new day breaks
standing at the shore
uncertain
unready
unsteady
inviting the unknown
or futilely looking
for a place to hide
we either step
into the ocean of fear
or it will crash over us
will we be washed away
or cleanse our spirit
break our heart
or break us open
to find a deeper sense
of who we are
(D James)
the context of silence
there is
the serene silence
of peace
gently broken by the sound
of a bird
the sobering silence
of anger
that forms in the echo
of a slammed door
then there is
the soulful silence
of lovers lying side-by-side
the singular silence
of a man
alone with his thoughts
the silence of a friend
waving goodbye from the window
of a train
the silence of enemies
standing on either side
of a line in the sand
the silence of a hawk
in flight
of the sun
the stars
and the moon in the sky
of a stopped clock
of a flower unfolding
the silence just before
the film begins
of paint drying on canvas
of lips moving in prayer
the silence that occurs
before the wind
that arrives ahead of the storm
the silence between
the final vibration of a violin
and the applause of the crowd
the silence of
worry
pain
loss
distinct from
the silence
of a smile
the silence
of the color blue
or the silence
we choose
and of the thousand thousand silences
the most powerful silence of all the silences
is the silence
of silence
(D James)
after the end
the power of night
the black and white
lithe and still
darkness falls
bringing the final
moment
nowhere to go
from here
but to the end
fast and painless
eyes open
but the light gone
out
those years
gathered up
then scattered
by the wind
a billion specks
of light and sound
swallowed
by darkness
then nothing
not even
the black
(D. James)
climbing the mountain
the blank page
stares back at me
silently mocking
my attempts
to scribble
something
of weight
the blank page
like a snow-covered
mountain
challenges my ability
to communicate
and whisper-laughs
at my thoughts of words
until I say
to the blank page
“ok, you write something”
then there is silence
and I can finally settle down
to begin the work of stringing words
together into something that makes sense
to someone
somewhere
(D. James)
the sound in between
there’s a moment
between the notes
when what lingers
is the dying vibration
of a sound
before the next key
is struck
when the world
makes sense
and life is found
in the silence
(D. James)
it’s alright when I shut up and listen …
waiting
wanting
you
just you
but this damn waiting
feeling spun out
lost
knowing you’re there
somewhere
too far
then I close
my eyes
and listen
can see
your smile
almost hear
your laugh
feel you
right here
with me
(D. James)
this is what it sounds like when you’re not here
all we have
are words
and I can’t find
any that fit
or don’t sound
self-serving
what’s left
is silence
maddening
deafening
unbearable
silence
(D. James)
nothing to say
there are times
like now
when there is
nothing to say
and so
I say
what’s
right there
” … “
(D. James)
nothing between us
in the silence
before dawn
I breath in
the scent of skin
rub the nape
of your neck
run my hand
along
your waist
to the pale belly
you roll over
stare straight
into me
seeing
who I really am
not who I project
to keep the world
at bay
but who
I want to be
who I am
when it’s safe
you smile,
revealing
your true self
I don’t know
if you do that
with others
but to me
you are always
an open door
inviting me
to step through
and I’m curious
what, if anything,
I do for you
(D. James)
what do I know?
(for Ian A.)
What if the old man
isn’t wandering or lonely
What if he has
all the answers
and knows it’s pointless
to say anything
Now who do you
feel sorry for?
(D. James)
falling asleep
The world
disappears
Everything goes
black
and silent
This lasts
six or seven
hours
Then my eyes
open and the world
is remade
in an instant
(D. James)
silent mind
Searching for things
I cannot find
for what
does not exist
All chatter
and clutter
with no way
to turn down
the sound
or change
the channel
(D. James)
dreaming of silence
Talk talk talk …
words without meaning
phrases that go nowhere
What does any
of this accomplish?
I’d discuss it
but that only
leads us back
to the beginning
(D. James)
Nowhere, actually
They talk
and talk
then talk
some more
Saying the most
benign things
about the weather
or what someone else
has already said
I look for silence
But still they talk
and talk
without really saying
anything
In the end
I wonder …
do these words
really get us anywhere?
(D. James)
