I wrote this poem for Bear Sage’s Poetry Week 5: Borrowed Lines, New Fire.
It’s inspired by imarkanx || istvan markan 🍁’s poem Groceries.
Not Anymore
No words—
but did we need them?
The clock ticks and tocks—
doesn’t talk—
yet it tells me:
wordlessness
isn’t silence.
I get home—
it’s cold—
hot coffee waits—
no words needed—
just warmth.
My cat greets me—
purring—
one more time,
no words needed—
just presence.
Going to bed—
cat follows—
pillows and blankets welcome—
no words needed—
just comfort.
And the clock
still ticks and tocks—
it tells me:
it’s time—
let it go.
The question lingers:
No words—
but did we need them?
Not anymore.
I’ll let the silence
be your words.
— Cae Rivas —
Thank you to Bear Sage for inviting me to participate and thanks to imarkanx || istvan markan 🍁 for the inspiration.
His lines “That was all. / No words.” made me pause and wonder - what gets said in the spaces between words?
Has silence ever told you what words couldn’t?
Also just to clarify… I have a cat in the poem because my friend Istvan has a kitty writing assistant. 😁
If you liked this poem and want to read last week’s poems, you can go here:
Thank you for reading, for your time, and for being you. 😊
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You should get a cat as you need a muse
I like it! Being alone isn't always being lonely and you showcase that here. Warmth and comfort don't need to speak to be a certain kind of love. I also like that you put your inspiration. It's fascinating how others writing can speak to us.