Sara Michas-Martin
Audition
halyards in the bay steady the indoor voice of the ocean
the undertow mumbles its silhouette an exhale
elevated to a sigh the full amplitude of motion any object
produces sound when it vibrates in matter
particles collide with particles in front of them
which collide with particles ahead
until you hear water hiss in the metal sink
pipes clack elbows the suck on the drain
over trucks outside wincing through gears the person shouting
echo of high heels pigeons warbling
hammer anvil stirrup
noise plays past the ear marries us to time
its tricks with speed and one-way argument
sitting quiet the reward of nothing then letting
a song decide which mood to sink
what other faculties live as vacant as crammed
as spotted as this? musicians organize sound
for no evolutionary purpose an audience claps
hearing the rise and fall of pitch
high notes swapped in for higher notes
a finger pressed firmly to sound the matching key.
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