Silence

Silence

I grew up within that particular brand

of American fundamentalism that wears

its piety like a badge…

so perhaps it's not too miscalculating to

assume that I might attribute that

posture to the motives of others…

even Buddhists

but contrivance is always contrived

for a purpose, and with humanity

that purpose is usually "to be seen"

and so we entered our 24 hour vow

of silence, much to the chagrin of

Rebecca, the Cuban-Italian among us

and what had been pleasant, if not complex

faces suddenly went almost blank,

eyes cast to the floor, mouths expressionless

good Buddhists.

I tried to think of this as an exercise

in silence, but what was missing

was solitude… aloneness with God…

being ever-vigilant among strangers,

keeping thoughts to myself and trying not

to make eye-contact is too-familiar territory

too easy, no exercise at all.

Silence isn't always solitude; more

often, it's avoidance.

And even the Buddhists would tell you

that mindfulness is the point, awareness,

not more walls, more masks…

so I'm hoping when the silence ends

to ask Rebecca how she fared in it,

perhaps to have some time before we leave

to meet some folks.