Sunday, November 14, 2010

A Word on Subway Performers, Everyone Else

Like so many subway performers

Trying to figure out what works

What their special talent is

The people go on with their conversations

Or smile, recognizing his tune

Or nothing

No reaction at all

This man

Only a set of mismatched sneakers

And a plastic bag tambourine of shaking, settling coins

Oh, God is on your side

I hope you've enjoyed my song

Anything will help

A penny is good

A dollar's better

(laughs, alone)

I'm hungry

And in the next car is another starving man

Singing

My baby does the hanky panky

With the most endearing smile

The whitest teeth

You've ever seen

Just and flourishing with his place in the world

Like a tiny fish swimming in unison with his surroundings

In the mouth of a much larger fish

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