sssh..shhh..sssshhhhOUT

oh lord oh lord
what emptiness,
all that length from the floor up
and over the edge of the well.

I cast up my voice,
imagine it distorted by the stale air upon which it floats
coming out a dissonant croak, an ugly hurl
up
and the passersby turn their shoulders in disgust
or bewilderment,
let's get away from that leper's song
before it catches in our nesty ears
and echoes whispers of despair
what we fear the most
the truth,
one
lone
solitude.