i can't hear you

the air is

littered with noise,

the commerce

of the world is constant.

the whir

of everything,

the grind

of metal, the swing of

pistons,

machines that cut

and blow

and blend.

a stir of

wheels

turning and turning.

steel

against steel.

horns over horns,

the engines overhead,

the jackhammers

against stone.

the whistle

of trains. the baby 

crying.

i can hardly hear a word

you said.