Re: LAX

One night flying home from Argentina
I suffered an unavoidable layover in LAX
Arriving at 8:00 p.m. exhausted
My connecting flight to Honolulu
Would depart the following morning
You’d think LAX
A large international airport
Would operate 24/7
It does not
The entire terminal wing where I sat
Closed down with all lights off
Except for dim amber emergency signs
Not a soul to be seen in near darkness
I lay me down across bank of plastic seats
My bedtime prayer to survive
Until my 8:00 a.m. flight
If I’d imagined I would get some sleep
I was mistaken
The least little sound would have me up
Hypervigilant
Surveying the scene for assailants
I thought about the movie
To Live and Die in LA.
I desired my fate to be the former
If you’ve ever heard someone
Wax eloquent in praise of LAX
You can be sure they’re mistaking
Their memory of it for another airport
At best LAX is the armpit of airports
Unwashed and deodorant free