(As Defined by the Ebers Papyrus)

By Julie Standig

Tinnitus can you drive you crazy,

lead to dementia, Alzheimer’s, depression,

the basic nervous breakdown. No cure,

deal with the buzz. She’s all inner ear electric.

Not necessarily a constant,

but she did just seem to appear—and she cycles,

comes in waves—waves that never crash

but retreat and return, slowly, like the moon.

When she first came out I didn’t think

she was in my head.

The florescent in the laundry room needs fixing.

Tinnitus puts the common ear worm to shame.

The Ebers concocted an infusion of frankincense,

aegyptiaca oils plus two more unknown exotic

ingredients that went into the ear. Unknown.

Could be any combo of Guarana, Maca,

Almond oil, Green tea. Nowadays we promise

solutions with a haptic wristband or CBD

gummies—who knows? You might just cure

a depressed mind or perhaps lose ten pounds.

Well Tinnitus—screw you. I tune out

countless others, I can do the same to you.

Julie Standig has been published in Alehouse Press, Sadie Girl Press, After Happy Hour Review, Schuylkill Journal Review, US1 Poets/Del Val, Gyroscope Review, as well as in online journals. Her first full collection, “The Forsaken Little Black Book,” was released in October 2022 by Kelsay Books. To learn more, see juliestandig.com. The Ebers Papyrus, circa 1550 BCE, is called “the most extensive record of Ancient Egyptian medicine.”

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