Those four words 
just those four 
keep ringing like 
some unanswered call 
like some stone 
tossed into a 
pond its ring
starting slightly and 
then growing until 
it finally slaps 
at my feet 
those four words 
once spoken angrily 
and in hurt
never stop ringing 

As I’ve aged 
quiet as commodity 
has become precious 
not just in
my personal space 
in other things 
too like elegance 
and confidence and 
character and charm 
even in creativity 
when and where 
whispers become roars
oh to go 
about barely noticed
and yet knowing 
that you are 

Once it was 
and the once 
stretched so far 
across the calendar 
and the clock 
and everything else 
before it too
but then once 
became the when
and the all
too frequently familiar
upon a time 

Peace in quiet 
no sound except 
the world outside 
going about business 
setting down putting 
aside such stuff 
I become small 
so small in
fact to go 
invisible and that’s 
what I like 
everyone knows nothing 
about silent me

This is it
a few speed
bumps that jarred
me and a 
few potholes but 
none that swallowed 
me just this 
new found normal 
that I now 
call my life 
cozy comfy and 
all things good