And She Was Silent But She Knows I Am Defending Her Poem by RIC BASTASA

she has been silent for long like a drifting

cloud, those white feathery ones on a
clear sky, a fine weather

like her disposition today wanting to be left alone so she can think like a deep

river, the dark deep one less the crocodiles that swallow whole her thoughts
and i am considerate about this indifference of a healing

wound, the one that has been there paining her as she puts
more betadiene and red merthiolate because some big flies are coming in
like an uninvited

visitor, the one that does not send you notice and neither brings you
at least a daffodil for your empty vase by the window

well, i know that in your silence you always keep me by your side the defender of your past

lapses, those that give you embarassment, those that almost kill you but i
keep telling you, never mind, never mind, move on, bury the hatchet, bury
the casualties of your sins, let them not come back, you see

i am here, your defender, the one that builds you a good name again,
the one that makes you write some nice poetry, that one that makes you paint

the beauty of sunrise, the redeeming colors that you see when
another sun sets in the west