Is that music?

For Thirzah

It’s late, the guy next door practices bass,

Silence staggers between sounds,

Two, one two, one two.

Hurts so much, human.

And it’s not easy, but you think you’re alone, only

Thirzah and I are listening.

Meat, muscle, memory. Not music, but

Undermusic, the subaquatic strum.

Ssh. I hate it but I love it,

In the dark you are the song of the dark, impure,
Counting out loud, in your head.