Cicada wings echoes echoes in bathroom stalls and walks to parks
and in parked cars.
And heartbeat loud and uncomfortable in chest, hurting ribs, hunting lungs, and bullying sternum.
A single wood reed shoved down your throat, "now breathe in."
Now open mouth-
now sound comes out.
Curl stomach inward, make the shape.
Correct vibrations, correct intake.
Mellow tone, nervous note
now more secure, now holding own.
Hollow stomach, hollow instrument,
now your song, now your song.