THE SILENCE ISLANDS

These are the

Silence Islands,

where what outsiders

would consider

nearly imperceptible

aural amusements

land like coconuts

on the crystalline

hammers and anvils

of the native inhabitants.

Theirs is a refinement

so exquisite that,

for example, to rhyme

anything with hibiscus

is interdicted anytime

children or anyone weakened

by sickness is expected.