I hear popping
in my right ear again.
It happens every time I chew
and it annoys me so
to the point where
I have a hard time
breaking things down
enough to swallow.

Yes, I have choked
now and then
because the popping is beginning
to sound more like guns
and my ears like
to pretend to implode.
So my jaws have rested
and the throat that carries my voice
proceeds.

And when I’m in the car–
just the car, which is odd–
I can hear the popping
fire in tune to a Mozart symphony.

But if I close
my slumberous eyes
and tilt my head so the
seatbelt strap caresses my face
with my left ear eavesdropping on Da Nang…
I swear the car goes backwards.

And the popping stops.

I have a hard time
breaking things down
enough to swallow.