I AM A MUTE AND I HAVE A LOT TO SAY!
	I HAVE A LOT TO SAY BUT I CAN'T TALK!
	YOU HEAR MUMBLING AND NONSENSE!
	I WOULD SAY IT CLEARER BUT I CAN'T TALK!
	I CAN'T TALK AND I HAVE A LOT TO SAY!
	JUST A STEP CLOSER AND MAYBE YOU WILL HEAR BUT I DOUBT IT!
	I DOUBT IT BECAUSE I UTTER ONLY HISSES AND GASPS!
	I SPEAK ONLY MOANS AND MUTTERING FROM THE DEPTHS OF A DEEP CAVE NO ONE REACHES!
	I AM DUMB AND STUPID WITH RAGE OVER SIMPLE WORDS!
	I NEED TO SCREAM SIMPLE WORDS LIKE "I WANT YOU TO HAVE THIS," "YOU'RE STEPPING ON MY FOOT," "THAT BELONGS TO ME," AND "I WISH YOU'D BE MORE CONSIDERATE"!
	I CAN'T SPEAK AND I HAVE A LOT TO SAY!
	I HAVE A LOT TO SAY...SO MANY THINGS TO SAY!
	BUT I CAN'T SAY ANY OF THEM BECAUSE I AM MUTE!
	I AM SUNK IN THE DEPTHS OF LOUD SOUNDS CHOKED AND CASTRATED IN SILENCE!
	DO I REALLY HAVE TO TELL YOU!
	AREN'T WE CLOSE ENOUGH!
	DOESN'T MY HAND ON YOUR SHOULDER OR MY EYES IN YOURS SAY ANYTHING TO YOU!
	CAN YOU MEAN IT WHEN YOU SHAKE YOUR HEAD "I DON'T UNDERSTAND"!
	I CAN FROWN AND SMILE AND SPIT IN YOUR FACE!
	THESE MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME BUT YOU HEAR NOTHING!
	YOU CAN'T HEAR BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY ENOUGH FOR YOU!
	I CAN HEAR YOU AND I DON'T LIKE IT!
	I DON'T LIKE WHAT I HEAR AND I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT!
	I CAN'T SPEAK AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ALSO!
	I HATE HEARING WHAT I DON'T HAVE!
	YOU HAVE WHAT I DON'T AND YOU TAKE IT FOR GRANTED!
	YOU SAY "I DON'T CARE," "GO AWAY," AND "SHUT UP"!
	I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BE SHUT UP!
	I AM TRAPPED IN MY OWN THROAT AND CAN'T CLIMB OUT!
	I CAN'T CLIMB OUT BECAUSE I AM A MUTE AND CAN'T TALK!
	I CAN'T TALK BUT I HAVE A LOT TO SAY!
Copyright 1999 John Feissel. All rights reserved.