Learning to Be Silent

Learning To Be Silent

Vi

Swallowing my words

Staring at the floor

Counting little cracks in the tile

Struggling to smile without choking

Learning to be silent

Ethel

Watching how the dust

Dances out the door

Noticing my hands start to shake

Contemplating taking up smoking

Learning to be silent

Vi & Ethel

Always hearing

Ethel

"Hush, Ethel!"

Vi

"Please, Vi!"

Vi & Ethel

"Let's not have this conversation"

Ethel

And so I stand by

While my mind takes a small vacation

Vi & Ethel

La la la la la la la la

Vi

Making little sounds

Other folks ignore

Ethel

Quieting the beat of my heart

Never being part of the moment

Vi & Ethel

Learning to be silent

Vi

Learning there are some topics that we don't even mention

Ethel

And if they come up, then we try to be vague

Vi

There are subjects from which we divert all attention

Ethel

And some we avoid like the plague

Vi & Ethel

I'm

Becoming a mime

Vi

Biting my tongue

Ethel

Biding my time

Vi

Trying not to scream

Ethel

Managed it before

Vi & Ethel

Knowing if I'm going to survive

Then, dammit

Ethel

I've got to practice

Vi

Practice

Vi & Ethel

Learning hmm hmm hmm