Use this image and/ or the line it contains “…just be still, and listen” as a jumping off piece. Full credit goes to Shlokla Shankar.

I was cursed at a young age with

A mouth that spewed fabric whenever I spoke

Muffling my words and leaving me muted

They tried finding the source with an x-ray

Ignoring two flaws

Fabric is invisible

And curses are magic

Stronger than physical science most days.

I tried to explain but choked and sputtered

As they tore the cloth from my lips

I wanted to tell them

Indeed I had tried

But they just…

I devoted years to communication after

Hiding how stunted my trust in them was

I couldn’t just tell them what was wrong

Or let new people  in

I was muted

Until I met someone

Who taught me the spell to quell them

Not a doctor or science, just loving care

“Just be still and listen” she whispered

A frog hopping out

And then I well,

I told my story.