The Oubliette

Black
Black is that state
that place void of colors
The night sky without stars
Without the heat from the suns
Black is the place small children fear
to fall into at night when the lights go out
Black is the color over her face
Hiding her smile or is it her frown
Black makes her appear like the others
Black covering a face and another and another
Black takes away who she is
Young or old strong or weak
The softest of skin
Or scarred and bruised
Black hides her body hides her being
Black is the only color allowed
no place for self-expression
A sea of women
hidden in black
Standing in line
Walking the shops
I don't know her
I don't know them
Not a single one
Draped from head to toe
She wears her oubliette
She must not be
She cannot be
We must not feel
Her pains or joys
Should her soul fly
upward
outward
into the world
becoming songs
and prayers
and laughter
What would become
Of the world then?
No No No
Behind the black
She becomes the black
The space without
the shining stars
Forget her forget them
Let her remain
In oblivion.

07/04/2010