Settlers

The Internet says my gut bacteria

have been talking

to my vagus nerve.

“Be careful,” I tell it 

(myself),

“they’re not all friendlies.”

Of course, it doesn’t listen.

That part’s just fantasy.

Conversation stops

when I come in a room.

“All I hear is gobbledygook,” I say

like a settler

on a new continent.

___

You just ran with that,

didn’t you?

Like you wanted

to put as much distance

as you could

between yourself and—

what? Your birth? 

No, the beginning—

though the beginning is often

the most interesting part.

___

Oh look, ninety

rustic wicker

Xmas tree ornaments

in a box labeled

“Norwegian.”