concentrate

when i look up my eyes retreat
towards the ever busy street
towards the lights that never dim
towards the stream in which i swim

before i speak-my words deflate
beneath the day and all its weight
beneath the howling gale of doubt
beneath the voice of all that shout

i hear my name- my ears recoil
into the silence yet to spoil
into the amplifier sting
into the blessed hollow ring

these senses are no longer clear
they permeate no longer here
they can not love, but long to hate
the soul who can not concentrate