Zephyr

Wind chimes batter
one another
in a futile attempt to escape
Their relentless
keening

A fire alarm goes off
For no discernible reason
Everyone scatters

When I pretend
to be asleep
I am exposed
Every time

Everyday something trivial
Will clatter
to the ground
And make someone
trivial jump

I can’t sing
in front of people
My voice comes
Out
but it wavers

All night
And all day
A bird is bawling

Did you know
Rattlesnakes have discarded
their rattles
They will issue
no more warnings

Yesterday in line
A baby stared and stared
at me
Squalling
the whole time

I fold inward on myself
Back arching
like a
Fierce, frightened cat