maybe it was chimes i heard or someone playing
a glockenspiel. it made me jump. like it always 
does. it could be the man coming down 
my apartment hallway holding a gun. no, 
that was a nightmare. it was a knife at my throat
and i was at work. he told me he was jesus.
i am okay now. it was long ago. but i jump, 
again, because what is that sound? it could 
be the circus i saw out the car window. remember 
when the performers fell? all that blood. no, 
that was a nightmare, too. it was my son 
being hit by a car. the police knocking.
his face was the blood i saw. his hands. 
but what is this sound? wind chimes? 
neighbor’s music? my son’s tv? i walk 
around the house and light candles
because you never can tell
what’s that sound.