Caught in a stranglehold
words cannot escape our lips
left in a situation
with no way to win –
speaking truth is condemned
silence is condemned
and lies are on the ascendant
we pick our way
through the verbal minefield
averting disaster
at every turn of phrase
exhausted by the eggshells
that crack within our voices
pouring words over a world
that has covered its ears – Caroline A. Slee