Gradually 
we became aware 
of a hum in the room 
an electrical hum in the room 
It went mmmmmm 

We followed it from 
corner to corner 
We pressed out ears 
against the walls 
We crossed diagonals 
and put our hands on the floor 
It went mmmmmm 

Sometimes it was 
a murmur 
Sometimes it was 
a pulse 
Sometimes it seemed 
to disappear 
But then with a quarter-turn 
of the head 
it would roll around the sofa 
A nimbus humming cloud 
mmmmmm 

Maybe it's the hum 
of a calm refrigerator 
cooling on a big night 
Maybe it's the hum 
of our parents' voices 
long ago in a soft light 
mmmmmm 

Maybe it's the hum 
of changing opinion 
or a foreign language 
in prayer 
Maybe it's the mantra 
of the walls and wiring 
Deep breathing 
in soft air 
mmmmmm