Watching Others on the Train

Oct. 15, 2012

Watching Others on the Train

Watching others
     watching others,
Watching others on the train.
A grey haired man
     plays with his fingers,
Reads the texts
     of a tired Korean woman sitting next to him.
Across from her
     is a Mexican mother,
Making faces at her daughter,
     laughter in the arms of her father,
          brother sulking in the corner,
     watching others,
watching others.

A grey hooded man sleeps
     with his hands in his pockets,
         dreams of thick jackets,
While a woman with a rosary
     hums a hymn
          and rocks herself to sleep.
Favored past time for city couples,
     silent smiling lips,
          inches apart,
     subtle points from fingertips
          flick from him,
     to her,
to me,
     sitting back two rows,
watching others
     watching others on the train.