When I don’t write
words get stuck in my throat,
tightening my muscles.
They curl up in my lungs
Making it hard to breathe
a slow, painful strangulation
sucking the life out of me.
Silence does that.
I had so many years of terrified silence
So many years of threats
to my life
Saw so many people in pain
and fear
the way I was
with no way to know
that they weren’t alone.
So now when my words
uncoil on the page,
become books that reach others
and I hear back how grateful they are
My throat loosens
My breath eases
My heart feels full,
And healing happens.
© Cheryl Rainfield, April 2014
Author of SCARS, STAINED, and HUNTED.
