strangled words by helen lyon
waves of panic
engulf me
my hands grow cold
my fingers numb
I cannot breathe
I’m stricken dumb
at this final resolve
on the one hand
I must tell the world
without pause for breath
as fast as I can
as the words tumble out
so I must shout
out to the world
as fast as I can
to all who will listen
but the tears
start to glisten
in my eyes
and I cannot see
to read the words
my resolution
has vanished and gone
the constriction
in my throat means
I cannot even whisper
let alone begin to shout
out the words
just words
strangled
they are but words
why do they hold
so much power?
Even if I cannot tell
the world
I will still tell her -
perpetrator
of betrayal untold