THE SILENCE EATS FIRST

By Janelle Standish

They taught me

early

to fold my voice

like a napkin,

neat, white,

easy to ignore.

I became

an echo

that flinched

before it sounded.

They called it

dignity.

But it was just

a prettier word

for disappearance.

I swallowed

whole oceans

to keep the peace.

Now

all I do

is drown beautifully.

#DarkPoetsClub