Behind the Iron Curtain

I used the first line of Carol Ann Duffy’s poem “Litany” shared in her poetry course on BBC Maestro as a starter for this experimentation:

“The soundtrack then” were silences,
Where urges to shush in company.
There were two lives lived:
One public—government approved,
One private—with a hint of danger.

Critical thought was prudent.
Animadversion was foolish;
Subject to the listener.

I was planning suicide,
At the age of ten.
Wonder why?

Our teacher said the whole class is planned for.
We are to spend the rest of our lives
At the conveyor belt,
In the tire factory.

Mind, people find solace in rhythm.
The undiagnosed highly gifted ADHD brain
Planned a different career that day.
One that would end with a knife.

I remember that night,
After school,
In darkness,
Laying still,
Making arrangements,
Resolving to wait,
Until we would reach
That bridge to cross.

Luckily the Iron Curtain fell not long after.
And the knife remained a cooking utensil.