in response

to “White Noise”
a poem about benign white noise in our world
not the White Noise in DeLillo’s novel
where poisonous gas permeates the community and culture
poisoning their way of life

Is that what is happening to us?
have we become contaminated?
Gladwell says that we’ve accepted
an (unhealthy) degree of violence
in our world
for too long
anesthetized we move in a world where children are killed in their schools
a place where they have assembled for learning,
a haven

our homes are our sanctuaries from the daily stress of work and interactions
upon returning home after a day at school trying to forget
the fight left behind this morning
merely opening the door allows oxygen to enter, find the trapped energy
inside closed doors
the tension remains

before you empty a bottle into your hand and swallow