I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am radiant as the sun.

And on the cold wet dirt I cry

a scream
is
- a shrill thing
that pierces the air like a knife
that echoes, that reverberates
violently against the walls

except :
when
you hold it in.

except : when
it pierces your heart

and only you hear
the desperation
[only you feel
that chaos]
as the rest of the world
interprets
[in vain]
 your deafening silence.