each and every
sound
has become
incomprehensible
distinct noises
blurred
a wall of
ambient wailing
until
all i can do
is fold myself up
reconfigure
my shape
shrink into
the silence inside
whisper my love
a mantra
to keep the tears
from etching
themselves
downdowndown
my origami
intangibilities

i am
unyielding
unwilling
to break
call it a
fundamental
character
defect
but i have been
beaten
left
enough times
that the only
things that
matter at all
are
you
coffee
and
the kids

it is in
times like these
when i need
a fistful of
middle fingers
to show the world
exactly how
much i care
buried in
an avalanche of
agonies
holding on
to the sparks
that threaten to
ignite
the edges of
a carefully folded
paper duckling
a human shaped stain
in three quarters refrain