working the booth at Comdex

whales lost their ears this way. slowly.
cartilage creeping backwards
into craters in bony skulls
retreating from the slap of wave
against wave against engine propeller
of humanity. faceless as raindrops
lost as the wick of a burnt-out candle

until all I can hear is my own voice
and it seems to be singing

LeeAnn Heringer