"NOTHING BUT A CULTURE OF SILENCE IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE"

I've been transported back in time

something familiar

yet also bizarre

the same old Twilight Zone

with the same old Culture of Silence

Oh, what a pain

Here we go again

The same old policy still reigns

opening mouths, typing fingers

loud voices, empty messages

Nothing, nothing, nothing...

Am I still one of them?

I have no say, because they don't give a damn

My voice is always cut off with reprimands

“Just follow The Culture of Silence”

That's always been their best defense

“Sssh...it's only in your mind,”

they always say.

“Everything's fine.”

Or: “What's your problem?

Why won't you just shut up and listen?”

Nothing, nothing, nothing...

This Culture of Silence

builds nothing but walls

of blissful ignorance

You may try to climb

and up you crawl

but you just don't get the chance

because some of them use the digits of their age

or the colour of their skin

or the God they choose to believe in

just to make you feel small

Let's try not to take it personal

In their eyes, you're nothing but trouble

so abnormal

They just want to act like nothing happens

What are you trying to dampen?

Nothing, nothing, NOTHING!!!

Nothing,

because there's no point in trying

They're so caught up in make-believe

that silence will get the problems to leave

a picture-perfect Twilight Zone

where The Great Pretenders may never be dethroned

I've always been that element

treated more like a poison

or a red rose's thorn

With them, I can never win

I suppose I no longer fit in

Why am I still here?

Will they be happier if I disappear?

They might complain one day

that we don't talk anymore

but I remember the last time we did

and I wonder: “What for?”

Nothing...

R.

(Recited at Unmasked Poetry – Imlekan, February 17, 2018 at Galeri Indonesia Kaya, Grand Indonesia, Central Jakarta. The event started at 3:00 and finished at 5:00 pm)