What I Am
I am an alarm. I am a timer. I am a school bell.
This is what I am.
I do not speak for hours. I sit and I wait.
I wait for what?
I wait for when the time is right.
I wait for when I am ready.
I wait for when I am needed, not wanted.
This is what I am.
I wait, and I listen.
I listen for the sounds of those around me, talking, screaming, whispering.
I listen to these noises so that when it is my time to be heard, I will be ready.
This is what I am.
I listen, and I observe.
I observe those around me, I observe the world, spinning in circles.
I observe, not too terribly close, because if I do I become caught up in things that do not involve me. But I observe, so that when it is my turn to be watched, I will be ready.
This is what I am.
I wait, I listen, I observe. But now, I stop.
I do not listen, I do not observe, and I cannot wait.
Now is my time, and if I wait any longer, I will not be heard. Now, I speak.
This is what I am.
I speak, and when I do, those around me are caught off guard.
The world stops spinning, like I have stopped waiting.
And all listen.
All observe.
All wait.
They wait… for me to speak again.
This is what I am.