A quiet night
the kitty rubbing up
against my feet
I sit in my bathrobe
trying to write
distracted by the ticking
of the wind-up clock
loud in the absence
of all other sounds
only the clock
and the low humming
in my ear
my tinnitus
I haven't known true silence
since it started
at first I fought it
futile effort
then I told myself
it's one more way
that God is trying
to break through
the walls I've built
between us
even so
it's easy to ignore
that silent voice
but sometimes
like tonight
I choose to listen
no words
but infinite meaning
now the clock
strikes midnight
time for sleep