Silent treatment

by Jahnavi Gogoi / August 2nd, 2026

even during the sit in
we are not talking
then comes the protest march
where we clasp hands
our knuckles white with fear
manoeuvring our bodies
in the throng without exchanging
a single word
midway through wiping the blood from my face
from her face
with a serviette then the bandana on my head
chanting our slogans
carrying our posters and banners
swaying our flags
adjusting the oblong swim-glasses
still not talking
as we wipe tears on our shirt sleeves
stoop to tie our shoelaces
even as we become human shields
and when it all ends
holding each other in a tight embrace
swaying to and fro
like a boat in troubled waters
and we still don’t talk
but we sing

Jahnavi Gogoi is a poet born and educated in Assam and now based in Canada. She is a freelance writer. Her most recent works have been published in Frogpond, Prune Juice Journal, Acorn: a journal of contemporary haiku, Coffee & Conversations, Enchanted Garden Haiku Journal, Madras Courier, Fictile Feelings by The Hooghly Review and so on. Jahnavi lives in Ontario with her family. She is a Touchstone Award nominee for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026. Read other articles by Jahnavi.

This article was posted on Sunday, August 2nd, 2026 at 8:00am and is filed under Poetry.