and if you could not sing for me

i would seek the song of strangers

rather than live silenced

and if you desired to sing for me

but your words were taken

i would learn the songs of strangers

and sing you new words

and if you would sing with me

these songs, however

strange upon our tongues

still, would teach us singing

it is so quiet, and this silence

aches to be sung.

Ong Namo, Make me an Instrument