The Speechless Boy in the Suburbs

To have lived without leaving
Something, some contribution
To existence after life,

It felt intolerable,
Always intolerable
To the boy considering

The lives of the surrounding
Adults going to their jobs,
Doing laundry, mowing lawns.

Having children was something
Important. He could see that.
It didn’t feel quite enough.

He didn’t know what would be.
But he felt he had to try,
If not to make things better

Then, at the least, to create
Something that hadn’t been there,
Something distinct that could speak.