returned from the mountains.

In this room
window covering blinds
move in fan,
pumping away the smoke and fumes
from early morning sedations.

Screen bare,
attempt at circulation.

Slowly the plastic horizontals
graze each other
dancing in these opposing winds;
light and shadow gather and retreat,
beams fall on tiles.

It is difficult still to breathe.

There is serenity, some minuscule pieces
now to glaze over my return to this place.
This morning my lungs only reject
smoke,

yesterday all of the air was
stifling,
hard to swallow.


The highway signs had stood tall,
green, galvanized steel arches.

I might say it was regret that choked me
Where ‘welcome’ screamed.