Smoke Alarm

by Joyce Nancy

The smoke alarm
is out of batteries
& no one is home
to feed the dog. After
a while you just stop
hearing it. Every sound
is the same as the one
before. My ears
are already ringing
& have been for years.
Sometimes the static
gets louder. Voices
start whispering
in shower steam
& rushing wind.
You are the only one
I ever told anything to.
Now your voice
is in my head. It says
what you never admit.
Repeats itself.
Full of vitriol.