give me a reason

the smoke alarm

beeps

in the middle of the night.

starling me awake

with

that annoying

shriek.

i begin

my search with a baseball

bat in hand.

which one of the four

is it?

i walk the steps,

down to the basement,

whispering,

okay, i know you're

in here.

come on, come on, beep.

show me your blinking red

eye.

give me a just one

more little beep. that's all

i need.

give me a reason.