I must hear the silence
between your words
to know how hard they
are for you to say.
Too smooth …I’ll know
you’re riffing jazz
to stay afloat until I say
stop…and we hide
in why and wherefore,
or you say…stop…and
we listen to a replay
of what and we’ll…
until we space our words
like two leaves on a winter tree
reluctant…holding on to stay…
words between the silence.
Bonnie Marshall
Artwork by Rob Gonsalves
Proem... 
Bonnie very well done. Excellent. >KB
Know I’m grateful you think so, KB.
This is beautiful!! Thank you for sharing it 🙂
You are very kind to comment so, and I appreciate that. Smile.
“like two leaves on a winter tree
reluctant…holding on to stay…words between the silence”
So spare and evocative….
As always, Jana, I highly value your reading and comment. Hug.
I really love this poem. I am always so taken by acts of purposeful restraint…
silence sweet silence…
we value your wisdom
What a thoughtful comment, Amanda, and thank you.
I am apparently not yet following your blog. This seems to have been an oversight on my part. I shall correct it with due haste.
Delighted you are here!
Yes, silence, like white space, gives weight to words. This is superb…especially the image of the two leaves on a winter tree.
You are most kind to say so. Smile.
I really like this.
Glad to know that, Ward. Smile.
The vocal rendition is wonderful. It really gave a different dimension as I read along with the poem, as do your carefully chosen illustrations. Music and Art – beautiful.
Hello Peter! I’m happy that you found it and like it, valued distant friend. Smiles.
Thank you so very much for following and opening the door to your decided different style of delicious poetry! Eddie
I appreciate your comment, Eddie, and I’m very pleased I found your fine site. Smile. Bonnie
you have a wonderful faculty for crocheting words
Thank you, Mark. My Irish grandmother taught me to crochet…knit, yet it is her stories I most remember. Smile.
Love this 😃 especially when you speak it.
Thinking…poetry is voice, so your insight is most welcome. Smiles.
🙂
The silence is always the most important sound for our loving ears….
Very thoughtful. Smile. Thank you.
Silence in between the flow, makes the words have more meaning and truth, it makes us understand and realize what words mean in reality.
Appreciate your thinking this. Smiles.
Instead of a rush and tumble of words, I love your thoughts of the silence in between.
You would understand the stillness. Smiles.
Love this. Hard to say what you said in so few words.
Thank you, David, for your understanding. Smile.
“in why and wherefore,
or you say…stop…and
we listen to a replay”
Beats a Gin and Tonic. With or without the lime.
smiling…I appreciate your comment, Harvey…partial to lime
LOVE IT!
Then…I’m please to know that, Alethea. Very.
this is beautiful!
Your comment is important to me, and I thank you.
Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented:
nicely said
Most sincerely, I’m grateful for your encouragement.
Reblogged this on Rajasekar and commented:
the silence between words
Grateful appreciation for your kindness.
Very lovely play between our conversational rhythm and the rhythm of music:)
Smiles..how perceptive you are, Andrea. Much appreciated.
Powerful lines…the power of the silence in between!
I thank you for your comment, and want you to know it is important to me. Smile.
This is beautiful. I love it. You really have a talent and greatness in you. Thank you for sharing this. 🙂
You are most generous…most…and I thank you for it.
You are welcome. I truly meant it. ^_^
The rhythm of the first sentence just draws the reader in, and I really like the idea, the image of it.
Thank you, Carolin. Please know how grateful I am when you comment about a specific line. Very.
You’re welcome. We’re writers and readers both. Which makes it possible for us to better describe our reaction to reading. Generalities are nice; I always appreciate hearing that someone has enjoyed my work, but I also find it helpful to hear more details of a reader’s thoughts or feelings.
Absolutely…always important to know if something we’ve written connects. Smiles.
So I try to make an effort to offer those details to other writers as well.
Yes…those moments of reflection are not only encouraging, but uniquely part of an internet dynamic that amazes me.
Words between the silence!
I love that line. It happens everyday on so many levels. Great work.
Thanks, Grant. Could be why I use ellipsis. Smiles.
so gorgeous. and lovely to hear you read it, the accent reminds me of tapes i listened to of huckleberry finn when i was a child
I’m pleased you like it, Marianne.
first, an admission. i brought up your blog for the first time a couple of minutes ago, and mistakenly read your list under “browse” as a poem! oh, my! i liked it so much, i began to read it again until i realized it was probably not intended to be read as a poem. and i still like it! you’re such a good poet, that even your lists are poetic!
in this fine poem i especially liked “I’ll know you’re riffing jazz/ to stay afloat,” because i listen to jazz a lot, and i could imagine just what was going on.
oh, and it’s also good to find another poet who posts audio files. i enjoyed your reading of the piece.
Smiles…yes…another reader did the same. I quite understand how it can happen. I’m glad you found my site, and I look forward to reading your writing…listening to your audio. Know I share your understanding of voicing.
such an economical poem – spare and unflinching- excellent. Very much enjoyed. And hearing it was an additional joy.
You might enjoy voicing your lovely poetry. Thank you very much. Smile.
I thank you for your thoughtfulness, perhaps one day? too self conscious I think. I cannot really imagine it being read, let alone listened to!! xx
Ah, well…no one need hear you except yourself at first. Might be surprised how much you like hearing your phrasing…how much you can layer meaning. Nothing extra is needed…just the knowing voicing of intent. Smiles…
Silence can create a rift between or shelter compassion – so much possibility in silence. Something we should practice more often.
I’m grateful you found this one, very fine writer Sharon. Wish I could keep up the poetry writing pace I once had … at eighty it’s getting harder to do. No problem, though, for to have written what I have is one of my life’s greatest pleasures. Just glad you’ve liked some of them. Smiles …
Gives me goosebumps. You are so talented.
Oh Cindy, thank you. I’ve been unable to write for the site for some months now. Your kind words are a mighty incentive. Smiles…
I’ve felt this way about your writing and photography ever since the first time I saw your site, Cindy. Absolutely !
Thank you, Cindy. Your kind words are a mighty incentive. Smiles…