1
[piano
in other room]
[cash
register dings and closes]
[blood
pounds in the ears of the planet]
[agonized
groans]
[microscopic
laughter]
[microscopic
laughter continues infinitely]
2
[snarling
at opposite window]
[operatic
candle flame]
[metallic
jangling]
[electronic
rattling]
[sudden
silence]
[staticky
sports announcer details all of your personal shortcomings]
3
[deep
tragic sighs]
[furious
typing]
[nerve
clusters sizzle]
[ice
clinks in glass]
[whiskey
pours]
[sun
melts down to the left, bubbles]
[knocking
at the door]
[packages
ripped open]
[gleeful
giggling]
[fabric
tears]
[furious
typing]
4
[tires screech]
[bells chime]
[organ playing]
[water runs down the walls,
humming]
[summer boils in the tamaracks]
[a demon is spun out of a turnip]
5
[pupils dilate]
[loud hissing]
[scraping]
[rumbling]
[door in the figure’s chest
slides open]
[the bells of 6-7 horns slide
out]
[anthems dilute birdsong]
[birds vibrate, transform into
black pears]
[pears open, play pop country,
classic rock, and the feel good, light hits of the ‘70’s.]
6
[smoldering child pukes buttons
on keyboard]
[gonorrhea in F major]
[sharp pebbles drop from clouds]
Michael Sikkema is the author of 4 books of
poetry, several chapbooks and collaborative chapbooks, and 3 country songs. He
edits Shirt Pocket Press.