I swallowed silence like fire and grew.
Every word I wanted to speak
was scorched, folded, buried
beneath the salt of my own skin.
I knelt to empty chairs,
praised the strength that never held me,
and learned my anger as scripture,
my grief as ritual no one witnessed.
Obedience became armor,
my ribs memorized the cost of quiet.
Hunger and fear etched themselves into my marrow,
teaching me how survival tastes like ash.
And now, even life demands its toll:
sacrifice my soul, or watch it burn alone.
About the Creator
Aarsh Malik
Poet, Storyteller, and Healer.
Sharing self-help insights, fiction, and verse on Vocal.
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Nice work
Very well written. Keep up the good work!
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Compelling and original writing
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Comments (9)
If pushed to pick a favourite line (as there are others here) I'd say it's the first. "I swallowed silence like fire and grew." My mind just turns the concept over and over like an endless puzzle. It's clear that I can be kept easily entertained for hours. 😁
Obedience became Armor🖤💯 Nice Line!
Incredibly powerful and great visuals.
Powerful poetry! 💙
I could hear and feel that silent paradox in your use of simile, 'I swallowed silence like fire and grew.' It is almost like I could feel the burn of holding back in my own throat, but you gave the true power of doing so by showing how it became a way to grow.
This is amazing
This is beautiful. That ending "sacrifice my soul, or watch it burn alone," gave me goosebumps.
obedience became armor-yes the obsequious people pleasing
I felt this one in my bones. Beautiful work, Aarsh❣