By Sima Rabinowitz
Nuestra Música
Hay silencios sagrados
las pausas frágiles entre palabras
Hay silencios desgraciados
quedarnos mudos cuando hay tanto que exige expresión
Hay silencios inesperados
ya no recuerdo el timbre de tu voz
Hay silencios desanimados
tener que repetir una vez más nuestra petición
Hay silencios que insisten
que resisten
que saben salvarse
Hay silencios que son como museos
archivos de almas desvanecidos
Hay silencios que sueñan
con una noche—una sola noche—sin tiros
Hay silencios que inventan su propia historia
para no dejarnos sin narrativa
Hay silencios que inspiran
una íntima benedición tentativa
Hay silencios que hacen una tregua con la noche
ocultando sus motivos
Hay silencios que nos dan la fuerza
de seguir siendo testigos
Hay silencios robados, fallados, falsificados
Hay silencios engañados, lastimados, dañados
Y hay silencios que ruegan ser llenados
de un canto humilde de amor
Our Music
Some silences are sacred
the fragile pauses between words
Some silences are disgraceful
we are mute when there is so much to say
Some silences are unexpected
I no longer remember the sound of your voice
Some silences are weary
having to repeat our request, once again
Some silences insist
some resist
some know how to save themselves
Some silences are like museums
archives of vanished souls
Some silences dream
of one night—just one single night—empty of the sound of gunfire
Some silences invent their own history
so we won’t be left without a story
Some silences inspire
a tentative, intimate prayer
Some silences call a truce with the night
hiding their motives
Some silences give us the strength
to carry on serving as witnesses
Some silences are stolen, mistaken, false
Some silences are deceptive, damaged, injured
And some silences beg to be filled
with a humble song of love
Sima Rabinowitz is the author of The Jewish Fake Book (Elixir Press) and Murmuration (New Michigan Press). Her prose and poetry have appeared recently in The Saint Ann’s Review, Amp, Hamilton Arts & Letters, and Trivia: Voices of Feminism. She wrote “Nuestra Música” for her dearest friends and her community in the Bronx.
Photo credit: K. Kendall via a Creative Commons license.
This is just so beautiful–and resonates so deeply
Silence is powerful and hurtful – we must always remember that! You are a beautiful soul and see so much.
very powerful.
Wow — that is so poignant and beautiful
What a powerful, beautiful poem.