PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

The serendipitous
nature

of public transportation

isn’t all fun and
games

in spite the
glamour

sometimes you get
characters

that taint the
moment

with their inanity

or otherwise
unsavory

behavior or
attitude

I have to take

a train into
Philly

and I run into

an old
acquaintance

who’s always mooching

nickels and
dollars

He’s all fucked up

which is par for
course

and telling me

that he wants

to throw himself

in front of a
train

and I’m like,

“Damn it!  That’ll

make the train run
late.”

And he’s like,

“So what?”

“so I have

to get into town.

If you kill
yourself

do it on the other
side

so my train isn’t
late.”

Then he wants me

to help him over

to the other side

but tries to mooch

a buck or some
change

before he goes

I can’t see much
point

in giving money

to a guy that
tells me

he’s going to
throw himself

in front of a
train

I know if

he kills himself

I’ll never get repaid

on the debt anyway

I refuse

and he’s all pissed
off

and I’m just
thinking

how some things
never change

but one thing

that has changed

is at least this
time

I’m not a buck or
two

the poorer for it

5-15-98