Hush Now
written by: Carmen Frech Oliveri
“Not being able to speak
is not the same as not having anything to say.”
– Rosemary Crossley
When I call your name,
turn your head,
directly
gaze at me.
No, not briefly,
do it lengthy, very lengthy,
and then remain still,
now stand.
-Clap!
sit again,
do it quickly,
smile,
ok,
speak now,
say it!
There is no one at door,
hush now,
take this,
this is glue,
this is for the butterflies,
see their wings?
They are flying (hands flapping),
up they go,
Up
up
up,
smile now, big smile,
you
are happy,
this picture says “happy”
show me “happy”
point to it.
This is happy, see?
not this finger, this one,
push!
done,
go now,
do it quickly,
eat,
this says eat,
tell me if you want noodles or chicken,
look at me,
directly
at me!
which one?
tell me,
eat more,
this says you like it, point to it,
you like it,
show me,
say “I
like
chicken”
say it,
say it,
say it,
hush now,
there is
no one
at the door,
quiet your mouth,
quiet your hands,
quiet,
quiet
quiet, now.
I am happy to rejoin the world of poetry, after so many years of silence. We all know that a little bit of ourselves lives and breathes in every single written word. Thank you kindly for reading.
- Blood Oranges - November 13, 2025
- Hush Now - July 25, 2025
- Yours - April 10, 2025
