The Crush

Just six hours 

of the chaos 

of the crowd

and my anxiety is back

like a gale that bows the trees

in the forest of my serenity

these people are pushing

in the lines

and leaving a trail 

of trash on the floors

like so many slugs 

each hand cupping a stack 

several deep

of emptied cocktails 

in their plastic solo shells

I thought 

we were here 

to get away from all of that

to drop down with our fins

into the green waters 

and sink into the folding waves

please don’t offer 

to take my picture 

I only smile with

nervous politeness

to cover up 

my horror.