the last day of innocence

By Cheryl Marie Wade

the last day of innocence I learned to let only the easy surface of words slip through learned to hold the breath and thunder of syllables in my throat father's whisper of love love in my mouth I learned: make noise no one hears

words trap behind my teeth if I could speak

FINDING WORDS--rewrite1 C.M. Wade--4

I would say

listen

listen to the storm in my throat