no, i won’t endure it
i tell you
i can’t bear it

not another word
another syllable
of falsehood

not one more
sensible
nicely wrapped
compromise
on what’s right

not another silence
a looking away
a pretense
of not knowing
when unsightly truth
must be seen
and said

not another
false word of acclaim
affirmation, or even
“perhaps”
when denial, refusal
is best

no, i won’t endure it
i tell you
i can’t bear it

not another word spoken
another second lived
another breath drawn
in fear

***

14th August 2012. This piece of poetry was penned by Shahbano Aliani and was inspired by Etsko Schuitema’s book: “Intent: The Core of Being Human”.