Friday, March 28

              Ten Minutes of Observance on a Crowded Subway



     I step on

     the subway smells like piss and bagels

     a poster of a beaming Hispanic girl glows angelic on the wall

     I fall into the hard plastic seat

     an iridescent gum rainbow shines from the floor

     a gangly homeless man in a knit cap limps over

    would I like to buy some batteries

    the great train creaks into life

    the dreadlocked guy next to me grooves to his headphones

    thinking of someone maybe

    his energy radiates to the German women laughing in a language

    that I suddenly understand

    the Indian women on my right smells like exotic spices

    the woman across from me taps her foot anxiously

    cradling her purse like its her child

    outside the big city whirs by

    the rain beats down on the dirty bulletproof plastic

    a young professional is watching the rain

    I catch his eye and for a moment 

    we see, we understand

    it's enough-- we smile and look away

    the train sways slowly

    we sway

    the driver's weary voice blares over the speakers

    I stand up

    this is my stop

    I step out into the rain

Jenny thinks really deep thoughts @ 3:48 PM

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