Pitter patter of my thoughts ka-thump

a gatling gun brring

through a forest clearing. I close my eyes

to it all, my head buried

in my arms, tangling my fingers in my hair.

Pillowed like the soft burned moss

which I slept atop

that blanketed the gnarled roots and broken rock scrapping

bare feet of children

dancing in the muddy river.

The bang-bang thudding slammed my mind,

booming and drumming

the quick pace trills

of marching bands hissing and shaking

as they storm down the concrete lanes.

I swaddled myself in their colorful banners and laughed

at the flowers rustling in people’s hair.

My fingers tapping against the table was

rain on a tin roof, sliding down clink clonk

onto the bamboo deer scarer

and koi fish ponds

that small waterfalls overflowed

My eyes

screwed shut

my throat closing.

Watching the images behind my lids fall like

Suicide bombers boom boom ka-boom an explosion

of nonexistent colors.