I trust it like an old friend br Silence which has br come to sit with me, br wrapping its arms around me br br it hides every utterance br of thought br smothers every spoken br syllable br and it grows on me, over me br while I chant soundless prayers br inside br br and so it prospers, br the relationship between br Silence and me br my tongue becomes br an obsolete limb, br heavy with the songs br which are now unsung… br heavy in my mouth br heavy in my heart… br br and my smug friend br moves closer yet br even closer still br for communion with my soul br br as it’s cold out tonight br br so cold…br br YURI DURAANbr br