Hospitals and Airports

Hospitals are like airports.
Exits and entries.
Arrivals and departures.
Laughter and tears.
Waiting.
for
tests
flights
answers
healing
Old magazines.
Crumpled newspapers.
Brochures
Information.

Walking
to gates
to labs.
Sitting in institutional
chairs.
Staring at wear patterns in industrial carpet.
Looking at nameless faces and
codes on loud speakers
calling no one
you know.

Places designed for the masses
catering to the needs
of a given moment in time.
Whitewashed in the brevity
of the short time we pass through
the open spaces
gates
thresholds
where movement
rolls
lies silent
wheels in unison
to the needs of those.
Who grip
safety railings
non skid floors
to keep from harm
from getting injured
falling
becoming confused
arriving late.
Getting hurt
Becoming healed.


Signage that
confuses
instructs
eases
educates
the time that we
wait
are alone
in a crowd
watch the people that pass by
and wonder.
Where are they going?
Arriving from?

Are they there for others
themselves
To exit
to enter
to stay
to be tested
to visit
to comfort-
those coming
going
admitted
late
delayed.
Gone.

Time passes in these tiled spaces
quickly
slowly
Days
hours
minutes
on boards
kiosks
clocks.
Decorated diatribe.
Alone and in groups.

As we wait for answers
smiles
deadlines
tests
goodbyes
hugs
kisses
fate
hope
Among crumbled newspapers
coffee cups
bandages
In seats designed for brevity
that feel like eternity.
Sometimes.
We wait.


Patricia Hecker