to be a no-see-um by hannah silvers

what do you do when you can see them but they don’t see you?  

sip the oil from the top of the vinaigrette through your labrum — quick, before it’s shaken
 
squeeze through the gap below the bedroom door into the early sunrise conversations, then whisper
           their secrets to the kitten
 
leave the spoon in the sink, handle caked with instant coffee powder
 
when the arguments start, push a can of tuna off the fourth shelf from the bottom. watch them jump at
           the clatter of aluminum. the French-cut green beans are next — exacerbate what you can
 
you don’t need their blood or the guts of the open sugar packets left out on the counter
 
they don’t see you — pull it all apart — because you can

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Hannah Silvers is an enthusiastic amateur at life. If you're looking for her, you'll probably find her cross-legged on her kitchen counter, reading a whodunnit and letting the popcorn burn. Follow her on Twitter @hannah_silvers.