what is that infernal noise   lin asks

you mean that constant

pervasive   parasitic   enervating   

grumbling   dissonant    filthy   grinding noise

yes'm   that noise

oh   you sweet silly girl   you're so young

so much yet to learn   if i tell you   

you won't believe me

try me   she says

that is not the sound of one hand clapping

nor a tree falling in the forest

that is the sound of men   certain men

those that will ambush you   perhaps not violently   

but relentlessly

until they wear you down 

and sap your spirit

cause you to weep   cause you to moan

cause you to despair for yourself   and all humanity

not all men   i add   perhaps convincingly  

most are lovely

~

do we know such men   she asks 

we do   i say

they are everywhere   in plain sight

and hidden

even here   where we type

lin squints   clint eastwood style

makes her hand like a pistol

and growls   make my day

~~~

"cause you to weep   cause you to moan"

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/In_the_Pines