two days now and into three
the pain had settled into my neck
agony could not be described
as its intensity seeped up from
an inner core and wielded its attack
 

I laid on the table of ancient healing
energy exchanged degree by degree
a primal chant and piercing sounds
worked its way along my meridians
and he advised me I should scream
 

I laid in bed drifting in and out of sleep
visualizing the clearing of this pain
a dream came swiftly into view
behind a glass door, stood an enormous bear
blocking the stairs to the second floor
 

outside my man, speaking to the authority
about the mischief of an disruptive dog
my cat escapes out the back door
unaware of a hunting coyote
I stood in the house and told myself to scream
 

no sound emerged within my sleep
no sound emerged as I awoke
yet I made the effort of opening my jaw
stretching it wide feeling every connecting muscle
and with great intent I released a silent scream