Poem: Take It Quickly

The panic of signing that first flat lease in a strange country where you know no one and don't speak the language.

Take It Quickly PI’m sitting in the realty office under the lights those incessant fluorescent lights Wondering how anyone can think in such a glare Conversations from four desks in three languages crossing like shots down the line in a doubles match Phrases drop from the brilliance lob-shots, somewhere up there three plus one Chodov won’t last won’t wait---no fridge twelve thousand no, wait, it’s already gone I sag and try to think where Chodov is but it’s the lights I feel Not wanting to look at flats desperately not wanting to look at flats Wanting to have a flat desperately wanting to have a flat Quiet, with birds softly chirping near the tram line and maybe a terrace that I can afford with my writing going well

This poem is included in Jim Freeman's poetry collection CORNER OF MY MIND available here in print or as an e-Book in your favorite formats.