Before

A carpet-cushioned
hush as you arrive
at the marble check-in desk,
bringing your watch
up to speed on local time.
Registration forms.
Credit card impress.
The porter - cabin bags,
suitcase in tow - shows you
to your made-up room.
Elevator pings.
Linen trolleys.
Furniture polish spume.

*

Alone in your designated office,
you take in the back-of-buildings view,

trying to make vague sense of the procedures
set out in the manual you've been handed.
...