no answer for you
that's the phone ringing
I have to tell myself not
to pound it into the top
of the table
that ring tone is annoying
but that's my fault
the call is someone else's fault
and i'll have to deal with them later
but the ringing is my problem
i'm lazy is all
can't or won't find the time
to change it to something
less biting upon my nerves
the phone rings again
someone really thinks they need
to tell me something
fuck you and your epiphany
i don't care
tell it to my phone
try annoying it for a change
it's quiet now
my window is open
i haven't opened it in years
not since the fire
not since the hurricane
how fitting that it takes
near disasters to get me
to breath fresh air
knock knock knock
everyone knocks 3 times
it's always 3 times
i wonder if that's a
universal constant
quiet again
no
feet go down the hall
fire door opens
and slams shut shaking the wall
now the fire escape rocks against the building
but they're not gone
they're just waiting
i want to sleep
but i know if i do
then the next knock will
jolt me out of my sleep
and i'll blurt out WHAT
giving myself away
if I'm quiet and just sit hear breathing the fresh air
I can pretend that i'm in the tree
and not have to deal with faces
faces on the other side
of my door
maybe if I never sleep
i'll not have to worry about
answering the door in a
haze of forgetfulness
maybe if I never sleep
i will just die
either way
i will be nice
and quiet