Room 304

The lamp was out, the hour late.

I stood and paused, sealed by my fate.

The Gideon Bible lay in view,

Its pages thin, its words brand new

To my tired eyes. The cover bore

A faint scent of stale smoke and more.

It rested there, a solid block,

Ignoring time, ignoring clock.

A shared belief, a public prayer,

Left open for whoever’s there.