New Place

Now I have seen

the brilliant spread-

the flush, full places,

(coming from a quiet

hall of fluorescent

light).

When that last gap

gave way to my first glimpse,

I gave my last gasp

in the stale, hot air.

Here the inactive light

is reflected in the eyes

of people caught in the

new breath

of their spastic flailing.

Now I have seen it

and suddenly feel

far removed from the harsh,

unspoken words of the last place.