I place my things
on all surfaces of the hotel room

like a cat
marking its territory

not messy exactly
just spread out
the business traveler’s version of
I was here

some part of my being is offended
by the dogged neutrality
of this unclaimed space
like trying to hug those people
who don’t like to hug
but they endure it anyways
stiff as brambles

even my things look uncomfortable
when I take all my clothes off
as if they too
can feel the opaque stare of the room

I dance around
but still
it does not see me.