Rest has been begging all afternoon

Soon soon soon, love.

 

Finally home in my top-floor abode

The end of consciousness is near

 

I slip into coziness and turn up the stillness

Oh love, I'm finally here...

 

But no.

 

Silence chokes 

Tranquility cracks

Obnoxious noise intrudes

 

I feel teenybopper bass notes incessantly Bulging up from the floor below

Boom boom boom

 

Then cling

Then clatter

Then unruly girly chatter

 

Why now? 

Why not some other unfortunate dot on the timeline of history?

 

Annoyance resumes 

Cursing ensues

 

I draft multiple complaint texts 

but fail to send 

I imagine various versions of the confrontation 

 

I plug my ears

Try the pillow poncho 

The madness carries on for what feels like forever

 

Then somehow

At some point along the way to insanity

I let bitterness surrender

 

My thoughts drift to an easier place

And in that moment 

The boom boom boom is replaced 

With the faint hum of my ceiling fan

 

Giggles and gaggles scramble out the front door 

Car door slams just below my window

 

Small driveway rocks rumble softly 

Into distance, engine fades

 

Ah love, here I am again

For real this time.

 

I slowly sip from reality and swish into dreams

 

Alas, I swallow silence

 

 

© Candice Reineke 2016