standing
inside of the
leasing office
the gentle fountain
bubbled in a lazy
spiral down into
the name sake
bear creek
thick woods
encircling
the entirety of
the simple complex
geckos sunning
on the concrete
around the turquoise
pool surrounded
by vibrant
if slightly garish
orange cushioned
wicker furniture
and it almost
seemed like a
hidden paradise

stepping outside
quickly reminds you
the airport is
across the noisy
highway running less
than a quarter mile
away and the facade
of nature is replaced
by sound and air
pollution far higher
than a cheap apartment
in a less fabulous
but infinitely more
honest location

in the midst of
concrete civility
we yearn for nature
even if it isn’t more
than pomp and illusion
carefully manicured lawns
sculpted shrubbery
and a homeless epidemic
carefully brushed aside

only humans act
so civilized
yet are always building
a better zoo for
themselves to shelter
from a scary world