The folks from Belize

still talk of Louise -

about her most shocking

astonishing sneeze.

‍

It’s curious how

at sixty-five pounds,

she’s able to make

such deafening sounds.

‍

It starts with a gasp      

before the exhale.

Her quivering lips

will pucker and pale.

‍

She wrinkles her nose,

her cheeks are bright pink,

her breath is unsteady,

both eyes start to blink  

‍

She wheezes and whines,

splutters and squeals,

throws back her head,

and kicks up her heels.

Her face is contorted

and turns a strange hue.

Then the explosion -

‍

AH-AH-AH-CHOO!

‍

All traffic is halted,                    

pedestrians stop.  

The onlookers reel

from tremors and shock.

‍

The children inside

all hide under beds.

Adults lie down flat                  

and cover their heads.

‍

Dogs squeal in fear

at high-frequency sound,

the birds start to panic

and fall to the ground.

‍

At the end of the sneeze,

the crowd looks around,

at uprooted flowers

and trees on the ground.

But Louise is composed

as she pulls out a tissue,

ignoring the fact that    

her sneeze is an issue.  

She dabs at her nose

and blows it discreetly,

then looks at the crowd

and smiles at them sweetly.

‍

The people stand silent        

in awe and dismay.                  

“I’m waiting for something...”

they hear Louise say.

‍

“Your horrible manners

have caused me distress.

I’ve not heard gesundheit,

or even God bless!”

‍

© Susan Jakubowski