Early Voice

“I have no need for tongue”
—Theodore Roethke, ‘Open House’

I bit my tongue; but look what still came upon me—on them
Hearing the faintest squeak: they squeezed
My crown down, my chin up, my tongue
Ripping through and falling spraying a loss of faith
Down my face—over the floor—releasing itself
From them all. But still I drew a
Poorly heart on the tiles
With my dropped expression: “This is for you!” I tried to mouth;
They only remained confused: “How can he still be like this?”
I screamed back—though mute—“But that heart is
For you! Look at my quiet tongue!” They could only
Slide over it———
                                Slip! So I helped them feel it
As they hit the floor—that a cut-off tongue

Is not only painful for the speaker: I loomed
Dripping

Love—new power—watching the drops                stain
Their bodies; and we learned

How love burns the skin of those
In darkness—that some

Cannot stand in the sun for

Too long; because
I bit my tongue. But look what still came upon me.