subway

a young black man in work pants splattered with paint enters the
train. i say to haley, 'what's that furry thing he's holding under
his coat?' she tries to get a glimpse as he passes but he's
positioning himself in the center of the car to make an announcement.
'i'm a struggling opera singer trying to make ends meet. if you hear
anything you like and can spare some change, i would much appreciate
it.' he opens his jacket and pulls out a brown fleecy bag of change
which he holds open during his performance. 'this is tchaikovsky.'

a tired older woman leans her head against the tall rails bordering
the subway car doors. it's 6 o'clock on friday on the northbound
train. i look down to make sure my feet are securely planted before
the train jerks to a stop; and as people shift to deboard i see her
hand stretching through the rails and being held tenderly by a grey,
aged man, slightly stooped to reach his wife's hand.

there are two boys in the corner of the car. they remind me of my own.
brothers with warm winter coats and backpacks, though no apparent
guardian alongside they are fully at ease on the metro. the older one
is probably todd's age, 12, and the other maybe a little younger than
luke. they are play fighting in a very familiar way and a maternal
warmth fills me.

just a few glimpses from the day. just a few of the reasons i love
this city so.

d: more city, more city, more city till i burst
b: inspired to write so strongly I'm doing it from my phone
g: stories everywhere i look