SOLSTICE in Postcards 4

There is something about my voice
that no one hears
yet in the background, real life
appears, dozing, reading,
working, talking,
deaf to my cheery perking,
silent to my reality…
it’s that way now.

Perhaps I have coughed to much
or spoke too strongly
into uncaring ears
smoked too much for
too many years
yelled too much at my children
this too will take my voice away
but not my opinions

Perhaps I am deaf now
and vanishing into my own
silent into the summer sun
silent under the hot blue skies
no longer yelling
now writing those opinions.