Angele Toomey Poetry

Sometimes I lie awake, replaying all the words I swallowed to keep the peace.

This poem grew out of one of those nights — a quiet question about what might happen if I stopped biting my tongue and let my truth slip out.

What If explores that fragile line between silence and expression — the fear that keeps us careful, the hope that things could be better if we just trusted each other enough to listen.

Maybe you’ve stood there too, holding back the words you wish you’d said. What would you speak into the world, if you didn’t have to be afraid? I’d love to hear — what’s your What If?

What If
What if I stopped playing the game —
hung your dirty laundry left out to rust,
fodder for vultures to pick t in the rain —
would anyone even remember your name?

What if I cracked open my thoughts —
all the midnight musings,
counterfactuals ands twists so taunt,
Are there any lessons you could be taught?

What if I unleashed all my venom —
every sling and arrow I swallowed down,
everything I watched you hurl at them —
would you still wear your paper crown?

And what if — what if I didn’t have to?
What if you started to listen, to hear —
the messages, simple, unmasked, uncoded —
and let go of your fear?

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