The Lonely Pursuit of Silence

Perfect silence (there's no such thing).
The AC breathes recycled air, the cell will ring,
beckoning me; the dehumidifier must sing:
sucking up the moisture is a noisy thing.

Outside a birdsong is muted by whooshing cars,
creating a cacophony of atonal bars,
whoosh, whoosh, wham. the intrusion jars
the senses and I ponder: is it quiet on mars?

And still, the birdsongs, the cicadas, a crow,
the wild dogs' nocturnal howls, a lonely heifer's low:
silence is elusive, but soothing falls the snow;
There's music in the discord, I've come to know.




Poetry by William Hughes The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 151 times
star mini Editors' choice
Written on 2026-08-16 at 16:38

dott Save as a bookmark (requires login)
dott Write a comment (requires login)
dott Send as email (requires login)
dott Print text


Sameen The PoetBay support member heart!
This has a nice rhythm and a relatable setup. The idea that true silence doesn't exist, but that there's a weird music in all the noise, is a satisfying place to land. The specific details, like the dehumidifier singing and the wild dogs at night, give it texture. But the rhyme scheme is doing a lot of heavy lifting, and some lines bend awkwardly to fit it, especially "is it quiet on mars?" The ending is calm and wise, but it arrives a little too easily after all the irritation the speaker describes. Still, the vibe is real and lived in.
2026-08-25


Editorial Team The PoetBay support member heart!
Your poem has been chosen to be featured on the home page of PoetBay. Thank you for posting on our poetry website!
2026-08-24


Jamsbo Rockda The PoetBay support member heart!
I like the rhymes. They are the noises of life. Total silence would be disturbing.
2026-08-17


jim The PoetBay support member heart!
I think about silence a lot, and wonder if silence, true silence, would be a blessing or a curse.

We'll never know.
2026-08-17