On the hallway wall next to the door is posted “Room 417 Storage”. In this fairly new facility it is used as an occasional office. The majority could not tell you where it is or for what purpose it is utilized. I was assigned to sit in silence in Room 417 with three other people for two and a half hours. I’m a teacher; you figure it out. Here are my impressions of the space, the activity, and our path.
In a claustrophobic room Painted white no decor there Neither flower nor mind could bloom Though florescent lights and vented airWhite noise from conditioned air Abundant plastic, metal too Nothing the senses would find fair Though clean and bright and also new
Sanitized of all that harms Disease, sharp corners, tanning rays Not a thing the spirit alarms Though emergency exits map ways
Thus the danger to our lives All is well but dead inside No awareness that life never thrives Except in Sonshine and change of tide
CreatorWorship 
I need more explanation . . . what was the purpose of this exercise? Was it punishment or what? . . .
:o)}
You obviously don’t teach in public school or you would recognize and dread this semester’s end silent marathon mandated by the state and the No Child Left Behind.
Let me add that two of the people in the room were teenagers and the other was an adult with a similar profession to mine.
thanks for the kind words you left a couple months ago on my blog. it’s been a privilege to visit your own. those last couple lines of yours made the words of another writer come to mind, as you both talk about the value of life as a question rather than a right.
“A strange species we are. We can stand anything God and nature can throw at us save only plenty. If I wanted to destroy a nation, I would give it too much, and I would have it on its knees, miserable, greedy, sick.” -John Steinbeck (1902-1968), Letter in The Washington Post, 28 Jan 60
Sarah, thanks for your insightful quote. Notice the date, 1960, the year I was born. Sometimes I feel we are in a generation to whom Jeremiah was sent. He was compelled to speak but assured of their failure to hear.
1960 was the point when the big post-war boom had matured but just before Bible reading and prayer were band from our schools.