Sounds of Darkness

It's quiet on the beach tonight.
Fires burn as young lovers

sit closely to each other

trying to keep warm.

A wave washed a bottle up to the shore,
but before I could reach it
another wave washed it back.
Maybe there was a note in it
that I'll never have the chance to answer.

It's quiet.
The sky with no clouds.
The beach with no rocks

for the surf to crash into.

Even the lovers are quiet,
doing their talking in silent thoughts,
not needing spoken words

to say what they feel.

It's quiet.
No birds.  No cars passing

on the nearby highway.

The only thing you can hear
are the sounds of darkness.
The night sounds.
The empty sounds.
They're empty

since you're not with me.

It's quiet.
And without you

the stillness is heavy.

Only a wave ...
washing up
another bottle to the shore ...

breaks the stillness.

Copyright © 1976 by Jace Carlton and Diamond Heights Press
Copyright © 2004 renewed by Jace Carlton

and Quiet Storm - Rolling Thunder Press

All International Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced in any form without written permission.

Excerpt from Sounds of Darkness published by Diamond Heights Press,
an imprint of the Quiet Storm - Rolling Thunder group