The Unheard Noise

By Tarika Vaitheeswaran

She's a quiet thing

Speaks when spoken to

Never any needless noise

Such a sweet, model child

Wise beyond her years,

She 's an old soul

Finds solace in the quiet

You don't see that anymore

Oh how dearly I wish

My child would emulate this

All she does is chitter and chatter

Surely that's no way to live

I will then accept their praise

With a painted smile

Oh how easily they soak in

These illusions around me

My silence isn't calm

Nor is she a symbol of peace

 She's my possessive friend

A sly, soft, confounding companion

She whispers in my ear

All sorts of things

I'm forever befuddled

By her temperament

She makes me wear my mask

Wherever I go, saying:

"Words must be guarded, kept safe

They must never know too much"

Sometimes, however, my silence is sweet

She knows when to dim the lights,

To block out  the noise

And just stay still, letting me be

But the problem arises when she's ignored

I cannot leave her alone long

Wherever I go, I must return in haste

 Else she gets loud and people stare

I suppose she's a part of me now

The loudest among my companions

She might whine and she might gloat

But still, all friends are dear

Thus, when they laud my still and calm

I share a silent laugh with my mate

I am perhaps louder than most

They just cannot  hear the noise I make

By Tarika Vaitheeswaran