Abatement Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

I'm reporting this to the authorities
you want to say
but there are no authorities

only people who want to make sure
they have something to eat for lunch
for several hours. and that you will

not impede this.
so what can you say?
there'll be no noise abatement

not today or any day

and it doesn't even go in waves anymore.
it's a continual rapping, tapping

as though you were in Poe's chamber
the day the raven came.
and now i'ts a thumping clomping

relentless, Thing that will stop if you complain
and someone comes padding up to investigate
so that no one believes your report

and thinks you're making it all up.
why didn't Poe write a story about this?
but maybe his neighbors were scared

to act up; Poe being Poe, you know.
and you want to go somewhere

anywhere else this is not happening
but where is it, is it?
or is the whole earth filled with

hammering
your soul slammed into the walls.

mary angela douglas 15 january 2016