Silence takes many forms
depending on your perspective
As a child, my mother’s silence
meant her disapproval
or the brewing of a manic storm.
My silence
was in the comfort of my room
with my books and pencils
while the storm raged outside
As a mother myself,
my children’s silence
meant that something was afoot
or they had finally succumbed to sleep,
and as teens
their silence was moodiness,
or that forgotten phone call
to let me know they were safe and well.
Then came the silence
of and empty nest
when the last of them left
to find their own way in the world
once an uncomfortable echo,
now relished.
Now that I am older
silence is contentment,
the silence of a life well earned,
of the freedom to come and go,
to explore my changing world
and to savour each precious, quiet moment.
COLLEEN MOYNE is a South Australian-based writer, currently living and travelling full-time in a campervan with her greyhound, Winter. She began writing poetry in her youth as a way to interpret the world around her. Her poetry and short stories have appeared in over forty different collections, both in Australia and overseas. Her work has appeared as part of an audio book for the Adelaide Fringe Festival and as radio plays for both the ‘Tales to Terrify’ podcast and ‘Creepy’ podcast. She received the Mindshare Australia ‘Open Your Mind’ Poetry Award and placed second in the Ken Vincent Poetry Award. Her first book, ‘Time Like Coins’ published in 2019, was nominated for an Anne Elder Award. Colleen’ssecond solo collection, ‘Called to Coddiwomple’ was published in 2023 by Ginninderra Press. You can learn more about Colleen at www.colleenmoyne.com or on Facebook at Colleen Moyne – Writer.
