The bed resembles asimple cot.

The cocoa brown tiled floor is frigid
beneath my bare feetwhile I stroke my hand
beneath my roommate's bed, searching forslippers.

I take a stand and stretch my back,
slide my foot fromleopard slipper
Into navy blue and orange flip-flops and
Shuffle down thehall.

Room 319: radio blares
Through airtight sealed dorm door.
ICAN'T stand Latin music. I

Toss my towel onto the counter,
Fumblethrough my bag in search of facial soap,
Turn on the wrong faucet;
Coldwater spurts on my bathrobe.

My morning ritual of praise and cleaningcomplete,
I slowly walk back to my room
And try to open the doorquietly.
Maroon sweater carelessly strewn
On my desk
Looks so good withthese jeans
But instead, I pull out a drawer:
A simple whitetee-shirt.

A little tinted gloss on my lips,
Grab my bag and make myway to the elevator.

Exiting Stephens Hall, light hits me hard.
I amrummaging around my navy messenger bag,
looking for sunglasses.

I walkaround town and stop off at a coffee shop
(It's not a Starbucks, but almost asgood)
And I take a foam-filled cup and grab a seat.

Peering around theroom, I recognize many faces
And smile at some peering back atme.

These are the days when I want to inhale deep breaths
Of collegeair and these are the days that I realize
Penn State is my new home.
Reviewed in 2000