They called it a localised experience
Something between made up and symptom
carefully draped it over the body in the hall
that sound of the paws of a panda
syncopates with hummingbird wing beats
exactly why snakes and spiders
give most that shuddering reaction
they shake the air around your body
it is that instrument on their necks
its irresistible purring and carping
ít’s the greater city around you
closing walls and eyes through doors
becoming others
the round bouts are an indignity
a bus passes by and whips
a puddle at the waiting passengers
they move slowly as if captured by film too fast
memory records every other moment for a moment