I recognize pain
like a face from the newspaper
or a voice on the radio
someone I've always known was there
and viewed with a curious detatchment
like a city street or an apartment
mine, but I don't own it
and the tears that fall silent
when no one, even I am looking
and like that face on the newspaper
I can turn the page and forget it's there
disregarded, and with surprise
or disgust that it would be on the front page
unimportant in color and twenty point type

and as I recognize pain
realize that I didn't read the story
which, continued on page two
contains the information I've missed
and I walk ignorant of those facts
which, might, if read off the page might
guide me to sanity or safety
and those tears that fall silent
that story folded into the second page
is what needs to be the front page headline
in twenty point type
for publication I only need
to learn how to scream


COPYRIGHT 2004 Wild Rabbits/Railway View Music and Publishing © This work is the sole property of the Author (Michael E. Warshaw)and may not be reproduced whole or in any part without the express permission of the Author, Publisher or Forum in which the work appears. ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED