what we have become aware of
by listening to everything--
not just the news
not just our friends
not just our fear
not just our self-hatred
not even those we love the most--
eventually seeps into our pores
and spreads like a virus
or a low-degree fever.

all we can do is sleep, it seems,
the couch becomes our only ally
even reading is too much for us
it's afternoon before we know it
and we've not gotten dressed.

only when the rockets undo
the wax in our ears will we be stirred
and to what action we cannot predict.

maybe all we can do is return
to what we know
before we hear the voices of others
after patriotism has dissolved
like an ineffective aspirin in our
already buzzing ears.