I Will Remain Silent

Thomas Quitzau

June 26, 2022

I will remain silent.

Silent as a still ultrasound, unidentifiable

Silent as these words only written, unspoken

Silent as a heartbeat, unchecked and steady

I will remain silent.

Silent as your pain, which I could never feel

Silent as your family, who will never know

Silent as your government, who are too busy

I will remain silent.

Silent as the dreams, we’ll never hear

Silent as your bullhorn, yanked away

Silent as the muted news, pretending

I will remain silent.

Silent as your donors, anonymous

Silent as the laws, scattered in books

Silent as a thumb, sucked in darkness

I will remain silent.

Silent as a nursery rhyme, in sealed rooms

Silent as the prayers, spoken in minds

Silent as a table, flat and empty

I will remain silent.

Silent as a Gerber ad, same ol’ smile

Silent as a diaper, yellow and new

Silent as a man, who has no place

I will remain silent.

Thomas Quitzau is a poet and teacher who grew up in the Gulf Coast region and who worked for over 30 years in Houston, Texas. A survivor of Hurricane Harvey, he recently wrote a book entitled Reality Showers, and currently teaches and lives on Long Island, New York with his wife and children.