February 11

There’s gradients of silence–
the moment just before

the PA system comes on,
the moment just

before the voice
calls a code,

the moment
after

.

And every voice
there ever was

started as
a child’s voice

.

Is that why
we’re so eager

to rush, to save?
Or is it salvation

by action,
by lack of thought?

.

After a while
you can tell apart

each wing
of this hospital

by the timbre
of its lighting–

West is yellow,
East is blue,

every floor
is sterile

.

And every
elevator

has a button
CODE BLUE

that grants
complete control

of the stainless
steel box

.

Two inked words
behind a slab

of plastic
that evoke

a sort of reverence
by allusion

and the sinking
of the stomach

as the box quickly
changes course

.

And every voice
there ever was

started as
a child’s voice

.

And every
silence

is its own
retort