Jack Henry's poem "and all for naught"

the ringing in my ears

never fades

day or night,

a constant screaming,

high pitched death wail,

it brings the madness,

it is the key that unlocks

my mind –

i sit in traffic,

daily,

ears ringing,

madness cresting through my skin,

an itch incurable,

a woman on a phone

talks loudly,

i hear her,

every word,

she is not hands free,

just talking & talking & talking -

& next to me

a man in a flash car

shiny bright

expensive

texts his mother,

or his brother,

or his mistress

as he

continues

to

slow

the

fuck

down…

& my hands grip

tight

the ringing & ringing

people slowing

& passing &

stopping

&

i

can’t

take it

anymore –

I pull off

the freeway,

return to

my hiding,

bury myself

deep beneath

the covers of

my bed,

& breath

real

slow

as the

ringing rises

higher

& i being

to

twitch again -

© 2019 Jack Henry

Jack Henry is a poet living south and east from Los Angeles. After a self imposed hibernation Jack reemerged and started writing again. Recent publications include Red Fez, Winamop, and dope fiend daily. In August 2019, Heroin Love Songs, a poetry journal Jack publishes, will see the light of day once more.

photo © 2019 marie c lecrivain