Labyrinthitis -- an inner ear infection that can affect a person’s hearing and sense of balance. The symptoms of labyrinthitis can appear suddenly and often without warning.

I took this condition as the inspiration to write this poem about being tone-deaf to the needs of your partner. You get thrown off balance when you hear "I think we need to talk," seemingly coming out of nowhere, when you should have been listening carefully to the pleas of your partner. Some people with this infection may experience symptoms that last for a few weeks but then disappear on their own, recurring every so often.