Phantom ache for things

that was once ours,

torment our days and nights.

Silenced,

our screams stay in our throats,

making us mute.

Our silence,

creates spaces for others to speak,

on our behalf –

claiming they know what’s best for us.

Threatening to break free at the most inconvenient moments,

our vocal cords find themselves.

Our voices come out raw and broken.

Long held captive,

sounding alien,

even to ourselves.

Not recognizing our own voices

renders us insane and voiceless,

again!

July 17, 2025