Beacon Falls

You act the injured, or the put-upon,
As if these years weren't something shared.
Thank god the children are all grown and gone:
Though I can't be, at least let them be spared.

What use is talking? We've talked it out before;
At least, you talked. I haven't much of talk.
Nobody wins by adding score on score.
There are old fissures words will never caulk.

As if these years weren't something shared!
What will you do? Will you see Sis and Ted?
Though I can't be, at least let them be spared.
"Enough's enough"? I've said what must be said.

At least, you talked. I haven't much of talk--
A yak of empty mouths in empty heads.
There are old fissures words will never caulk.
These are the moments a sane person dreads.

What will you do? Will you see Sis and Ted
Before the Journal sets us in a box?
Enough's enough: I've said what must be said.
We've managed, so far, to survive the shocks.

A yak of empty mouths in empty heads;
A curtain's lifted to watch us down the road.
These are the moments a sane person dreads,
Not the dull paper with its flimsy goad.

Before the Journal sets us in a box,
We ought to tell them--you see that, of course.
We've managed, so far, to survive the shocks,
Trapped first by marriage, and, now, it seems, divorce.

A curtain's lifted to watch us down the road.
The greatest hurt was what went unexpressed,
Not the dull paper with its flimsy goad.
The embarrassed light stubbornly moves west.

We ought to tell them. You see that, of course?
You act the injured, or the put-upon,
Trapped first by marriage, and, now, it seems, divorce.
Thank god the children are all grown and gone.

The greatest hurt was what went unexpressed.
What use is talking? We've talked it out before.
The embarrassed light stubbornly moves west;
Nobody wins by adding score on score.

copyright 2002 Stuart J. Silverman