YAWP!

I

secret voices whispered

into baby ears

crooned cradle songs that

covered the sounds of arguing

took me to places inside

but not inside

thick teutonic forests

sod houses on a green grass sea

striped clowns of black and white

western facing hogans

pulsed by thundering herds

frigid silent limestone convents

leaning in to samoan laughter

the black wolf

voices led me away

saved me from the world

introduced me to my ancient self

II

my father's voice

well-worn though seldom used

harshed by a thousand marlboro reds

silent as the grave

where he now lies

never gentle

never soothing

in its sobriety

always razor sharp and

barbed to prevent closeness

its exact rhythm and timbre

i no longer remember

but i hear him still

in the rattling clink of ice cubes

in an empty highball glass

III

undisturbed layers of voiceless dust

settled thick enough to write in

if only i dared

must not disturb the status quo

i will remain silent

i must not tell

let it be

let the sleeping dog lie

but that need

pokes pokes pokes

jabbing memories

like a monkey wielding a stick

screaming

but only inside

when they tumble free

entombed memories

choked on childhood’s ashes

barbaric or soft

it sounds

ripped beyond

the veil of voicelesness

a harsh bleat from an impala

caught fast in the jaws of a lion