Silence
I crave it
A stilling of the voices in my head (“never,” “can’t,” “imposter”)
A silent night
A holy night
All is calm? Never.
Bright? That’s the synapses firing, ratatat, plinking in a tinny pitch
The closest thing to silence I have yet to experience
is in dreams
Even now, tinnitus, like angel songs on high, has descended
down ’round my ears
to provide my anxiety with a soundtrack
© 2025 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For What’s Going On? The prompt was silence. Too many years in NYC and other big cities. Even here in rural Wisconsin, the muffler-free POS trucks of the Friday Night Bros haul ass down the streets. The mere concept of silence is foreign to me, so I went all in on the “how.”
Sharp Little Pencil 
Sherry Marr
Tinnitus as a sound track for anxiety is rather brilliant, kiddo. Smiles. When will the din diminish and our mornings dawn with some relief?
Mary
I just hate it when there is an unpleasant soundtrack going in my head! (which unfortunately is many days). And even at night my mind is not silent…often dreams are not pleasant. You are lucky there is often silence in your dreams!! Smiles.
jaerose37
I love the hymn too and feel the search for silence in and out in your wonderful words – and how wonderful it is to see you and read your work here again – Jae
Rall
Welcome back….tinnitus as a background to anxiety is a brilliant line.
Sumana Roy
The whole poem hits hard. “All is calm? Never.” Yeah, I get you. I feel the whole world is praying for the song to descend and hold our hand. Thank you so much Amy, for joining us.
marja
“That’s the synapses firing, ratatat, plinking in a tinny pitch” a great expression of something awful! I had a for a while, but I am blessed it dissappeared
shaun tenzenmen
My tinnitus is a constant wavering tune, a soundtrack to my noisy day and quiet nights. Nice write 👏
Renee Espriu
I so understand you here. I’ve had a lifetime of not being able to get good sleep. My brain rarely turns off. I liken it to a ‘ticker taper parade’ but there is little I can do. The noise of tinnitus is a constant all day and I hear it more at night when quiet descends upon the darkness of night. I’ve had both of these forever and getting older has not helped. Your write speaks to me. I hope for you sound sleep with the quiet that should reside for you there.
purplepeninportland
Unfortunately, I have the same soundtrack. I can never get enough silence.
enchantinga3fc8420f9
Great to meet you at the laundramat today. Thanks Sly Stone. Nice piece. Hope to see you ar some open mics.