Mute Words, the vehicle of thought and emotion Fail me now I am mute when cornered by those Who would make me speak But my mind is constantly churning Aching, burning With words that can never leave my lips Feelings forever captured by fear Words of love, of sweetest passion Thoughts that have their being in my being Remain unspoken, coward that I am Words of passionate hate that sometimes come Are also squelched by icy waters of conventionality With time, whatever voice I once had Fades to a whisper...and I am silent. Poetry