Silenced
By DJ
When I am silenced I feel dead.
To me, the silenced becomes a bad habit.
When you see me, you witness bravery.
When you hear me, you witness power.
To hear me is to have an understanding of oneself.
To see me is to see the power of understanding right in front of you.
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The poets featured here are currently incarcerated, and many of them are in federal prisons far from home. Your feedback is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Post your comments, feedback, and encouragement in the space below the poem. Messages will be passed on directly to the author. Comments may not appear immediately on the site, as our team processes them to mail to the poets.
This poem has such strong emotional impact. The choice in words truly emphasizes your overall message. For instance, I see a sense of inner conflict but also empowerment. The first line of the poem immediately had me hooked and set the mood of the poem. From there, I thought this poem would be dark. However, as it kept going, a sense of power built up. I enjoyed reading this poem.
Hi DJ, thank you so much for sharing your poem! I like how you related being heard with bravery and strength because to not be heard is to feel invisible, and to be invisible is to be suppressed. I also like how your poem is like an invitation for self-reflection. This was wonderful, continue the good work.
Very nicely written. This feels like if a mirror were to be a poem.
The power of silence is almost unknown. Not many people are willing to stay silent long enough to know something. This is an eye-opening poem and I hope will inspire those who read it to think about staying quiet just enough to maybe learn something new and strengthen their perspective on life.
This is a powerful piece! It highlights the strength of being heard and the importance of understanding. Keep expressing yourself!
This poem is so powerful and empowering! The connection between voice, bravery, and understanding is beautifully expressed. The idea that being silenced feels like death speaks volumes about the importance of being heard — and when that voice is finally heard, it brings strength and clarity. The poem captures the essence of self-expression and the courage it takes to speak up. Truly inspiring!
This poem is so inspiring and powerful. I like how you captured self-expression and understanding one’s self in this poem!
This is a very liberating poem. I truly feel inspired because it shows the impact of being misheard and silenced. The poem shows what it feels like to be heard, finally. Lurking and not being heard almost feels like there is no purpose, but once someone hears you and knows you, you finally feel a purpose. I greatly enjoyed this poem!
Your poem beautifully highlights self-expression and the courage it takes to be heard and seen. I also admire how straightforward and concise it is, allowing understanding of powerful emotions and themes of bravery and impact to quickly resonate with your audiences – there is strength in simplicity. It’s a wonderfully written piece that invites reflection and empowerment, and is a reminder that there is power in being true to oneself. Great work!
What an inspiring deception of your struggles and hardships, and how yet how strong you also are. There is beauty in the simplicity of this poem, and so much strength in every word. You are a wonderful writer, keep going!
I feel this. For a lot of people silence becomes habitual, then when we speak up its like we roar. It is powerful. Its powerful for the audience but also for you as the one speaking up. It gives you a rush I feel to keep speaking up and overtime will help create new habits.
You demand that the reader look at you and really see for the first time. You challenge us to encounter bravery and strength by seeing you and thereby seeing ourselves, as well. Being understood is at the opposite end from being silenced, and you masterfully weave that lesson into a confrontation that is at once poetic and powerful.
I really appreciated the raw honesty in “Silenced.” The way the poem immediately states, “When I am silenced I feel dead,” grabbed my attention and set a strong, unapologetic tone. I liked how it turns the idea of being heard into a symbol of bravery and power—it’s not just about noise, but about standing up for oneself. The language feels both personal and universal, making it relatable while also making a bold statement. The direct, almost minimalist style really adds to its impact, making every line count without unnecessary embellishment. Overall, the poem left me feeling inspired to value my own voice and the voices of others. Keep it going!
This is a very powerful poem. I agree that being silenced makes me feel dead, as we should all be able to show through our words how we feel. Thank you for sharing this piece!
This gave me chills. It’s bold, honest, and deeply empowering. I really felt that line: “When I am silenced I feel dead.”—it speaks volumes about how vital self-expression is, especially for those who’ve had to fight to be heard. I love how you flipped it though, turning not being seen and heard into something powerful—not just for you, but for the people witnessing it. There’s so much truth packed into this. It’s a reminder that our voices matter, and that can be life-giving—not just for us, but for others too. Really powerful work.
This is such an impactful poem. Your use of personal perspective makes this all the more empowering, especially as you differentiate between hearing and seeing yourself in a powerful position. It’s important to acknowledge that there is so much effort and power in being heard. Silence truly is a bad habit, and I’m very glad you’ve talked about that in your poem. There is a lot of courage in speaking up, and you truly have captured it. This is so inspiring, and I encourage you to keep writing these poems!!
This poem is beautiful! Your emotions are strong and evident. This truly gives me an insight into your thoughts and feelings you are experiencing. Thank you for sharing your story through your writing.
Your words speak to the vital force of expression—how silence can suffocate while speaking brings life and clarity. There’s a raw power in your voice, a reminder that to truly understand ourselves, we must dare to be heard and seen.
This poem highlights the importance of having a voice and the strength that comes with expressing oneself. It shows how speaking up and being heard can empower both the individual and those who listen, creating a deeper understanding.
This poem offers a striking reflection on the relationship between voice, identity, and power, with the opening line—*“When I am silenced I feel dead”*—immediately setting a powerful emotional tone. The contrast between being seen and being heard deepens the message, portraying voice as both a personal and universal force. Expanding on the metaphor of silence as a “bad habit” could add even more depth, but the piece already speaks volumes with elegant simplicity.
“Silenced” is a bold and empowering reflection on voice and identity. The contrast between silence and expression is striking—turning what could be weakness into a declaration of strength. It speaks to the importance of being heard and seen, not just by others, but as a path to self-understanding.
This poem is so well-written! I enjoyed reading it, and it provoked self-reflection.
This poem is a fierce declaration of voice as identity and strength, reminding us that true power lies in being seen, heard, and understood.
Hi DJ! Your poem strongly expresses the connection between silence and a loss of self. I admire how you turn silence into a powerful statement about identity and voice. The lines about bravery and power really stood out—they emphasize how important it is to be heard. Your words show the strength that comes from understanding yourself and being seen for who you truly are. I really enjoyed reading this and think you did a really great job with it!
Hi DJ! I think this poem beautifully highlights the importance of voice and presence. The way you contrast silence with power is powerful, showing how being heard is tied to strength and identity. I really connected with the idea that hearing and seeing someone can bring deeper understanding. Your words are a reminder of how important it is to be able to express oneself freely. I think you did a great job with this poem and I really enjoyed reading it!
This poem is giving powerful self-expression vibes. I love how it connects voice with identity and strength—like silence isn’t just quiet, it’s a loss of self. Great job!
This poem does a great job showing how important it is to be heard. The writer connects silence with feeling invisible or lifeless, which makes the message strong and emotional. Lines like “When you hear me, you witness power” show pride and confidence in speaking out. The poem is short but powerful, with deep meaning in every line. It leaves the reader thinking about the strength it takes to speak up and be seen.
What a beautiful poem. You’re word choice and repetition really do an amazing job at conveying emotion in your work. You’re first line is a powerful hook, immediately setting the tone for the rest of the poem, and captivating the reader. Truly amazing job!
This poem is a bold affirmation of voice, identity, and the transformative power of being heard. Your words remind us that silence can be suffocating, but expression is a form of survival and strength. You speak not just for yourself, but for anyone who’s ever fought to be seen and understood—making your voice a living force of courage and truth.
This is an extremely powerful poem, and I appreciate you speaking out on this topic. Often, people do not appreciate the privilege they have to use their voice until it is taken away from them. Your voice is powerful and I hope you continue to use it.
This is such a beautifully written poem! I love the message.
Hi DJ,
This poem is powerful and your voice comes through very clearly here. It is a hard thing to do to conceptualize oneself, but this is written absolutely beautifully. Silence and power are the two juxtaposing phrases here, and it is extremely well written.
Great poem 🙂
This poem provides beautiful and haunting commentary on the power of and value in feeling seen and heard. It could be applicable in so many contexts (for example: social injustice or personal trauma), which makes it a timeless piece that many can feel moved by which is a testament to the writer’s capacity of pain and understanding. Continue expressing yourself, you are seen and heard.
Wow – this poem feels so personal and powerful. Oftentimes poems can be about negative emotions, so it’s lovely to read a poem about the power of speaking up and using your voice! This poem expresses power through empathy and strength from being around people who lift you up, which is an important sentiment that’s often forgotten. I love the use of repetition and powerful word choice!
You are right, silence can be stifling. No person should ever attempt to silence another person. We are set free by our thoughts, our words. Your words are your power. Your writing is your superpower! Keep writing and keep speaking when you need to. You have something powerful to say!