One summer morning 

A monotonous buzzing began

In my left ear

Like a tune from a bee    

A subdued sound, on and off 

It did not bother me much

But when winter came

The sound turned into

A high-pitched shriek

Like from a cricket 

Constant and relentless

Taking away my peace

To distract myself 

I kept the radio on

The doctor told me

It was a tinnitus

Now I have accepted it 

As the background music 

To my life

By Shih-Fang Wang

From: United States