by Donna R. (Cole) Carter, copyrighted 1982, all rights reserved.
I am enclosed in a sound-proofed
plexi-glass cylinder,
inside of which
I have no feelings...
physical or emotional
and I can cut myself
without a thought.
There is no mind
to feel no pain.
Just dull numbness.
Outside there is havoc.
I am aware.
I am out there too,
trying in vain to break
the sound-proofed barrier,
pounding on plexi-glass
screaming,
"STOP! STOP!
DON'T DO IT!"
but inside I can't hear it.
I can only see it, and can ignore it
for my numb
nothing
serenity.
In my cylinder
no one can penetrate with
cruel words or laughter
no one can reach in and
slice my heart to bits.
No one can break my cylinder.
They can see me,
I can see them,
but if I let anything in here
my cylinder of silence would shatter.
