Mumps

at seven;

chronic

childhood

ear infections;

concussions,

(three)

ages eleven, twelve,

and eighteen

(vault,

softball,

and fist,

respectively.)

A head that

brightly rings

in ceaseless,

multi-tiered,

soprano chorus

similar to

(utterly

different

than)

the pulsing

insect trill

of fading

August.

— C.Birde, 8/19