Rather Be Breathless Than Blank

And I sprinted through those underground tunnels
Ran up the stairs past the people, stagnant,
On the escalator to my right

Only to get stopped at the elevator
And arrive at the same time:

They, calm and blank-faced;
Me, breathless,
Flushed,
& angry
about it all.

But then I looked in the mirror
(one I was holding, this time,
Not him, Not them, Me!):

I saw my pink cheeks

The flash in my eyes

And I know
I'd rather run to my destination
Than stand still, letting something else power my way up.

At least I ran.