She says that since the cochlear implant
all she hears is battling flutists, and she adds
“you know how I hate the flute.”
I remind her that she did love Paul Horn
but she retorts “only in small doses.’
A friend says it could be worse, it could
be battling harpists but she would
gladly trade her flutes for harps.
I want to find this humorous but I know
it is not for I am not living with this
music in my head, at least not yet.
And, I imagine that it would be torture
to be forced to listen to Yusef Lateef
for eighteen hours a day, but while torture
is prohibited by international treaties
it appears those treaties do not apply
to medical implants designed
to help you hear the sounds that
are actually all around you, and which
will if she is careful, never include flutes.