Breaking the Silence
Willie P. Bennett 1993

Laying awake at night
Waiting for the other shoe to drop
And the creak on the third step
From the top
And the light from the hallway, leaking under my eyelids
As he opened the door to my room
Hand under the covers
Never breaking the silence

One hand on my mouth
The other where no hand should be
Whiskey words and a secret
Not meant for me
No hint of love as he wet the sheets
No words of compassion that might set me free
Of this quiet violence
And never breaking the silence

All this time spent wondering
Why I thought I had nothing to say
Of never feeling too much
And liking it that way

I'm not gonna waste my life
Being afraid like everybody else
Always avoiding dark places
Especially inside myself
I know two wrongs don't make it right
And I feel the answer's out here tonight
And I can't go on
Without breaking the silence

All this time spent wondering
Why I thought I had nothing to say
And never feeling too much
And liking it that way

I'm not gonna waste my life
Being afraid like everybody else
Always avoiding dark places
Especially inside myself
I know two wrongs don't make it right
And I feel the answer's out here tonight
And I can't go on
Without breaking the silence