This efficiency apartment is the definition
         of sterile, soul-draining–
it could be emptied in five minutes.

Barebones, the bed comes out of the wall,
           hard, neutral surfaces,
nothing inviting, memorable.  But in all

this spartan starkness, a small potted
            orchid, the kind you pick
up in a grocery store in a white plastic cup

saying someone human was here trying
           to bring a breath of beauty
into this spare comfortless space.