Treasures

by Lisa Duncan

this room holds

all the words I’ve ever said

they’ve come back to me

every last one of them

they’re speaking to me now

in my voice

in the voice of condemnation

slouched in corners

they judge me harshly

without understanding

they lie to me

are insincere

they are lazy and stupid

and loud

in the voice of doves

by the window

they sing softly in harmony

surge

when I say I love you

forgive me

still barely audible above

the hissing from the corners

there are serpents in the corners

they came from my mouth

beyond the walls

the sound of my heart beating

Art by Jared Frei