Voices Don’t Echo Here

I spoke once.
Nobody listened.

Then twice.
Still nothing.

After that,
I learned.

Keep the noise
inside the skull.
Keep the fire
behind the teeth.

What’s the point
of speaking
in a room
with no ears?

They smile,
but they don’t hear.
They nod,
but never stay.

So now I exist
in hush.
I whisper
only to myself.

No one interrupts.
No one pretends.
And strangely,
I prefer it.

Because at least
the silence
doesn’t lie.