Laliophobia

...or "fear of speaking" if the name of the photo that inspired this work, the latest in the "Fields of Arbol" series. This photo was the product of photographer/model Kalea, who caught the expression perfectly. Due to her marvelous ability to capture both beauty and intense emotional states, it is very likely you will see more than one of her works on the rework of williamfdevault.com, including the rework of the flagship poem "Love is an Howling Beast".

So here we have

Laliophobia

to the generic or the specific? is it words
per se, or particular words that strike fear
so deep your throat constricts and you are
rendered silent?
the violent aftermath of a dream gone bad,
or just a subtle doubt as to the value
of the thoughts you would speak?
you smile politely and try again and nothing,
a great and thunderous nothing, drops
to the ground, without a sound, amplifying
your terror and now it is a vicious cycle
of cat chasing tail chasing nothing but itself.
and no one will ever know what it is
that you were going to say that shall be
forever between you and God.


William F. DeVault. all rights reserved.
Which I found particularly appropriate to an aspect of my life.