Struck Dumb (Poetry)

There was a cry caught in my throat
I feel its struggle even now —
sharp as thistle
thorned by doubt
I could not swallow
though I choked

Some terror had me in its grip
it overwhelmed — I couldn’t scream
the sound was stuck
no note rose up
a frantic silence
froze the scene

Each breath turned to a painful wheeze
the air was burning — tongue on fire
each moan and gasp
seemed like my last
my vocal chords
thin rusted wire

And then I woke to daylight’s stream
the tension shifted with a sigh
soothed by sun
the horror gone
my voice released
from some dumb dream