In Silent Silence

 How silent this dark valley is

With hues of black and grey

Of shadows past and present

The ghosts of yesterday

Of kind words never spoken

They stay unspoken still

Of unrelenting cruelty

That smothers thought and will

Of unresolved regrets

Should haves, could haves - not

Of misapplied guilt

Dead hope left out to rot

No footfall heard

No pebble turned

No twig snapped

No breath 

Nothing

Only silent silence.

And yet there is a presence

Among the swirling ghosts

A strength that stays and hovers

Above the mocking hosts

There is no reprieve of error

There is no removal of pain

There is no healing of memory

No blotting out of stain

Comfortless comfort

Hopeful hopelessness

An unfelt feeling

An unsensed sense

A knowing

A belief

A Yes

I AM

Him

In silent silence

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2020