THE SOUNDSCAPE OF LIFE IS CHARRED BY TINY BONFIRES

      Two bedtimes ago, through my window,

      I heard a cat get eaten.

      As the cat split, it sounded like

      a balloon string put to scissors

      to make curls so the birthday boy

      would smile extra wide.

      Last night, by the same window,

      I heard mostly my breath, inside of which

      was a small baby suckling

      my air for his milk.

      When I bolted upright, the baby

      grew up into a carpenter,

      nailing his brains into the side of my lung

      to babyproof the light switch.

      Flip the switch and it lights

      a picture of my emaciated, sore-ridden bum

      for my breath to laugh at.

      Why is my breath so unlike yours?

      My ears? Why do I only hear such unnatural things?

      Although, come to think of it, death is completely natural.

      I’m just exasperated. Everywhere life-sounds

      swarm this, our shared pond, like mating turtles.

      Cars whoosh, schmoozers hum,

      snakes spit poison, Martin and Martina say yes

      and sob and hold, but my ears fill up instead

      with eggshells cracked by the bumbling parents.

      I cleaned my left ear out,

      but my nail cut the drum.

      It filled with water

      and is deaf for now.

      I’m leaving the right one dirty. No sudden changes.

      Keep everything dry. Let it figure out a way to heal itself.

      And me: just practice living with yourself deaf.

      Sometimes your brain is as unwelcome

      as muscles or guns. It’s obvious to others. Maybe even

      everyone. Don’t wish for anything. Don’t get organized.

      Don’t buy a book. Don’t go to bed early.

      Seek out beige, in foodstuffs and landscapes.

      Chew gum if you’re overwhelmed.

      You’re in this alone. That means there’s nobody to stop you.

      You’re almost at the finish line.

      But first, you have to pick a finish line.