Chorale for Apartment Hunting

Photo by Brandon Griggs on Unsplash

I am looking for a new apartment, and having not much luck. But — I am learning a great deal about what people see as a “unique gem” or a “rare opportunity.” And I am getting lots of opportunity to practice taking actual conversations and turning them into something like a poem.

I.

Just leave all the doors open

and it will be cool enough.

That's what I tell folks to do.

The windows?

I suppose I could work on this one

and maybe get it to open for you.

II.

I don't want to show you the deck today.

With all this rain we've had --

there's algae everywhere and --

I don't want you to fall,

off the deck or

down the stairs.

III.

Every unit has new appliances like those and ---

Oh. I just --

It's on you, and I don't want to ---

(Is there a cicada on my jacket?)

I, yes, I--

I'm afraid of them too and—

perhaps you could shake it out the patio door?

IV.

You can't stop people smoking.

People smoke.

And if you don't like smoking, well --

you just can't stop it