Through the Peephole
I thought it might be sex noises: high pitched
squeals, sounds of banging furniture;
and then higher, louder, a different shout
outside the door: two children, nine or ten,
a boy and girl playing tag, up and down
the hotel hallway in their pajamas, giggling,
hitting each other, and disappearing again,
this time into their own room next door.
More slamming, and they’re back at it again,
kneading the red carpet with bare feet.
It’s lovely, this unexpected running barefoot
in pajamas down halls, a welcome disturbance
where sleepers grumble in their numbered
beds, away from games played; straining
at the door to keep in view something
daring disruption, distorted in distance.
Joshua Kulseth earned his BA in English from Clemson University, and his MFA in poetry from Hunter College. He is currently a PhD candidate in poetry at Texas Tech University. His poems have appeared and are forthcoming in Tar River Poetry, The Emerson Review, The Worcester Review, Rappahannock Review, The Windhover, and others. His book manuscript, Leaving Troy, was shortlisted for the Cider Press Review Publication Competition.