the tinny harpsichord
hammer-plucks out its
hard rhythm on
wooden keys—
ebony matte—
the sound
resounds
within a failed
rebound.
chord harpies
haunt my hopeless
halls of harrowing hell.
even silence—
soundlessness—
becomes its own
suffocating song.
© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, December 1, 2025.
Tittu
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Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Online) - Published: December 1st, 2025 09:25
- Comment from author about the poem: I’m now published in an anthology featuring authors from across the Poconos, PA. All proceeds benefit the Pocono Liars Club — a collective of authors and editors dedicated to supporting and mentoring local writers. Available in paperback and Kindle, please consider purchasing one and supporting a great cause. https://a.co/d/58uxM69
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 27
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, jarcher54, Carlos Alberto BUSTILLOS
Online)
Comments7
Well written, Tristan, this speaks to my heart,❤️Your poem explores the themes of despair, haunting memories, and the inescapability of one's internal struggles. It suggests that even silence, which is often perceived as peace, can be oppressive and suffocating. Yet to me, this poem serves to express the complexity of human emotions, particularly how art (in this case, music) can evoke and encapsulate feelings of sorrow, entrapment, and the struggle for peace amidst chaos. The poet may be attempting to confront or articulate their pain, seeking understanding or catharsis through the written word.
My friend, I’m moved by how you connected to this…the struggle, the heaviness, the way both sound and quiet can trap you. It means a lot that it resonated and yes, your analysis is spot on, dear Friendship. I truly appreciate you. 🎹🖤🙏🌑
How true it is that the lack of sound can be heard as loud as any other note. This poem in its brevity tells quite a story in some ways mystical in some ways, philosophic very nicely done Tristan.
Soren, I love that you felt both the mystical and the philosophical threads…means a lot that you heard it. That idea of silence being as loud as any note is exactly what I was leaning into here. Much appreciated, my friend! 🎹🖤🙏🌑
You are most welcome my friend. Anyone that knows music knows that the pause and silence can make or break a piece
Yes, indeed! 💯
There's wooden acting but we know a glugger who's not wooden! heehee.
Hard to be wooden (hehe) when one's spinach-soggy woo....ehem...never mind. 🤣
Not creamy spinach. Argghh! lol.
LOL! I know. Gross! 🤮
Love the harpy incorporation! Makes poetry alive 🕊️🙏🏻
arqios, thank you…glad the harpy note landed for you. I wanted that little mythic sting in the middle of the music. Means a lot, my friend! 🎹🖤🙏🌑
I'm not quite sure if it's what you meant, but the chord harpies' screeches are not unlike the harsh bizarre sounds that come from an old, out-of-tune harpsichord. Good poems often morph into sound in the mind. You hit the spot!
Thank you, my dear friend. Indeed, you did pick up on my intention of comparison between the harpsichord and the harpy. So glad that you connected the dots there and pointed it out for others too! Indeed, good poems often do and so glad this delivered that way! Much appreciative of your time and your insights! 🎹🖤🙏🌑
Tremendous. I can hear it.
Yessss! So glad this delivered, my friend! You could not have given me a greater feedback on this one! Thanks again! 🎹🖤🙏🌑
Yes, because the silences are at least as important as the struck (or in this case, plucked" notes.
Yes! Indeed! Keen insight and I am glad that stuck out to you, Dan. Thank again, my friend! 🎹🖤🙏🌑
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