Silence of the World
By John Herlihy

I
Silence signifies the total absence of anything around,
Bereft of rhythm, tone, movement, and most of all sound.
No single sound dare interrupt with the stroke of a tyrant,
A single sound would be vice to the virtue of being silent.
My schoolboy primer proclaimed silence to be golden;
To whisper in class turned you into a thief who has stolen
Silence was held in high esteem, a treasure to beholden.
Then there is the silence that can speak unwritten volumes;
Wander through a forest to hear the silence of misty plumes
A silence that echoes in the mind within my inner rooms.
People the world over appreciate the magical aura of silence,
A noble stillness that reflects the wisdom of the sixth sense.

II
But silence contains within its mystique an ominous quality,
A deep, dark mystery that elicits fear of its menacing vitality.
Silence can manifest itself as the virtual antithesis of sound,
An imposition of hollow silence instead of a voice most profound.
What is the meaning of silence when human justice is betrayed?
What is the benefit of silence when sordid vengeance is displayed?
Who listens to silence when we witness the slaughter of the innocent?
Who prefers silence when we ignore the cries of victims in torment?
Why remain in silence when we need to cry out in human sadness?
Why hide behind silence when we must outshout prevalent madness?
There is a time when the sound of silence speaks of virtue to the world;
There is a time when the sound of silence betrays the voice of the world.