Dampening the sound

There’s a little muscle

in the middle ear

(the stapedius muscle)

that contracts

in the presence of

loud noises,

dampening

the

sound.

I sense the contraction

as my hearing

‘closing down,’

particularly when I’m

exposed to

sounds I can’t bear

(loud talkers).

Thank you, stapedius.

You’re protecting more

than my inner ear.