I wanted to write a poem about silence so bad
But the topic is sound
So technically…
I’m not allowed to cheat.

Ay, shhh
don’t tell anyone that I almost did.

But wait…
Isn’t it funny
that whenever we want silence,
we make a sound:
Shhh.

Hmmm
Silence itself makes no noise
Yet the command for silence
comes with a sound:
Shhh.

So who is making the sound here?
The person asking for silence?
Or the silence arriving late at the meeting?

Hmmm
What does shhh even mean?
“Please keep quiet.”
Or “Keep this secret.”
You want people to keep their things with you.
Or you want them to keep your things with them.

Ahhh
Shhh is a tiny sound with a surprisingly big job:
It can calm a baby,
pause a crowd,
hide a secret,
or start a plan.

One small breath,
good or bad,
depending on who whispers it.

Shhh
Now listen carefully.
Did you notice?
I tried to write about silence.
But the entire time I was making noise.

Shhh

Don’t let them know I cheated.

Shhh.

• March 20, 2026