Silence

Silence is not golden, but black
Black as a moonless night
A cold and empty room
Echoing a lonely heartbeat
In the absence of comfort
Understanding, compassion
A disease that infects those
Once open and alive
Who broke the silence
Once too many times
And like a mirror, given
Many years bad luck.
A self imposed affliction
That guards the heart and soul
When words do more to harm
Than heal.

Caren E. Salas


Day 1 of Robert Lee Brewer's April Poem-A-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month.
Prompt:  a "communication" poem.
So here we go...