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