at least he's sensitive

i was having a hard time concentrating

out here on the deck

because

peter’s got this murder mystery on tape

playing at maximum volume

in the kitchen

comes at me through the window

and he’s not in the area

he’s watching tv across the house

(and this is a 14-room house)

so i went in and turned down

the boom-box novel

things are better

and he’ll probably not notice

the volume change

if he says anything

i’m going to launch

into his schizoid ass

actually i think his problem

is existential angst

three tv’s,  two books on tape, the radio, and

all the lights on in the house

and all his other electronic

crutches

will not help him withstand

silence

or darkness

he says he dislikes people

and he can’t hack

being one