Did I once fear

did I once fear

the silence of the dark

I long now to stifled

wrapped 'round in still

quiet is not cold or pale

it is a warm red room

hot and stupefying

a drug that brings relief

shut up

shut up

let me lie still

and hear a great abyss

wide and open

constant, cruel

noise comes

my nerves

are as taut as the plucked strings

on a violin

waiting

let me sleep

let me find oblivion

that my ears may be no longer torn

with shattering sound

(See, my older younger brother, as opposed to my younger younger brother, decided he was going to raise birds. Parakeets to be precise. In his bedroom. In our very small mobile home, with paper thin walls. Did you know that parakeets, if you don't take care of them consistently, SCREECH ALL DAY AND NIGHT? I have never really liked birds since. On the bright side, I didn't have to share a bedroom with him - If I recall correctly, it was around this time that my older brother started sleeping in his car...)