Errors in Waking

A prompt poem for the contest. The heartbreak of broken dreams.

He speaks of silence,
slowly,
as if she is in the next room
taking in every word.
He speaks of silence
calmly,
as if she would utter a cry,
a shout,
and ruin this tension.
He speaks of silence,
so cautiously,
knowing she is growing,
inside of me.
He speaks of her,
more-so speaking to her
as my limbs do freeze,
he is speaking to me.

Once, I had gingerbread promises
of the houses,
the family,
the cats
we would share.
Once I could build a house
out of all the things he concocted
from the silence
of his mind.

But now,
dwelling between the lines
of then and now,
I cannot see
how this has become silence
and he has silenced me.