JEREDITH MERRIN
The Cicadas
when exactly did they start
their
uncanny chirring
that moved from those trees
to
these and quieted
then rose up again in those
waves
of sound underneath which
although it was so strange
we
continued as usual
children tearing around crazy
with
end-of-day energy
adults talking over the news
having
drinks on the porch
the rising falling buzzing
around
us relentless
like insomniac thinking
monotonous
grinding
rapid wings scraping
insistent
erotic
maybe a kind of warning
bomb
fire tornado
or a lecture in a warm room
where
listeners nod off
and wake up with a start
heads
bobbing like marionettes
the strings slackening tightening
when
exactly was it over
who could understand it
we
will be tested
what do we need to know 
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