The Silence
Sorry for the little dashes between the stanzas. What can I say, is a biznatch in spacing. I'm sending the site some major hate rays right now for masacaring my poem. Oh well, nothing I can do. Anyway, this is a poem, about Clarice, and Clarice's lamb, and that terrible experience which set the stage for the movie. I understand that it's rather long, but bear with me, will you? Thanks.
-Ink.
……
I roll over in my bed but
I can't block it out
Get up
Tiptoetiptoetiptoe
Out
To the lawn
And it sounds like children
Screaming and crying in pain
Fear
Confusion
-
And I don't want to look
But
I have to
I have to know
-
The ground is soaked with crimson
It's blood
-
A pile of bodies lies in the corner
Looking like a child's discarded dolls
-
So fragile
-
Ruby liquid soaks their snow white fur
No. No.
No!
-
I tried to free them
But
They didn't understand
Their innocence and trust in the men who raised them was
Unfailing
-
But one. Just one.
-
I took him and ran
He bleated softly in fear against my chest
-
My lamb
Oh, how I love you
Don't worry, I'll keep you safe
Keep you safe
Keep us safe
-
Step-pant. Step-pant.
How long, dear lamb?
How long have we been fleeing?
Fleeing fear
Fleeing pain
Fleeing death
-
I stumble
Oh, sweet lamb, you're so heavy.
I'm weak.
I can't… I can't…
-
I must
-
Just one
Just one lamb
Just one innocent
-
I've got you
Hold on
Just a little further
We can do it
We can make it
-
I'm cold, dear lamb
Why is it so cold?
The reeds brush against my legs
I've never been religious
But
-
I whisper a prayer
-
Please, God, save us
Don't let us die
Keep us safe
Help us go on
-
My arms ache, my darling
But I can't let go
Not even for a second
-
Because the moment I do, they'll come
They'll get you
I know it!
-
We'll have lost
I can't let that happen
I can't let go
-
My legs hurt
I slow but I won't stop
Can't stop
-
My breath comes in dry rasps
Cutting through the stiff morning air
Cruel as a knife
Cruel as an axe
Cruel as death
My chest burns
My brain screams to run, run away
But my body cannot
-
My heart flutters against my chest
Like the wings of the sparrows
We'll fly
Fly away
Far away
Fly
-
How far?
How far must we go?
I don't know if I can keep going
Where are we running to, dear lamb?
We have nowhere to go
We're all alone
It's me and you and you and me
We're all we have
Don't let go
-
Maybe we'll find a nice family
They'll take us in, keep us warm
Keep us safe
-
Who is that behind us, sweet lamb?
Why does he know my name?
-
He wants us to go back, love
No! We'll never return!
I tried to run, my lamb
But
-
I was so tired, so weary
My mind screamed
But
My body wouldn't listen
Couldn't hear
Didn't know
-
Get away from him, you horrid person
Leave my lamb alone!
No, don't, get away!
-
Lamb!
-
Stop!
Don't take us back, please!
They'll kill us!
-
My legs fold
I cannot stand and
Darkness
Covers my eyes like
A shroud
……
I awake in my bedroom
As if
From a dream
Or a nightmare
At first I am relieved
-
Just a dream
Not real
Safe
-
But
-
Then I hear it
-
No
No!
-
I run to the barn
And now there is just one
One lamb
One innocent
Just one
-
And I scream
But
No one can hear me
The silence deafens
And the lamb, my lamb, dear lamb
-
Dies.
-
I run to him
His frail, lifeless body
And stroke his soft head
As tears course down my face
-
Oh, lamb, sweet lamb
No, no…
I'm here, see?
I came back for you.
Please don't die.
-
But he's already gone.
-
Oh, my lamb
I could've done more,
Given more
I was weak
If only I had run faster
You'd still be here
-
My fault. My fault. My fault.
-
But oh, dear lamb
I fought so hard to save you
-
Please forgive me!