---

 

This writing was accepted for publication in the 108-page perfect-bound ISSN#/ISBN# issue/paperback book “Into the Surf” cc&d, v324 (the August 2022 issue) Order the 6"x9" paperback book:

Order this writing in the book The Wall the cc&d May-August 2022 magazine issues collection book		get the 426-page May-August 2022 cc&d magazine 6" x 9" ISBN# perfect-bound paperback book:

Order this writing in the book the 2023 poetry review date book (the 2023 poetry collection (& art) weekly paperback book)		get the 146-page poetry & art weekly planner as a 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book:

The Cosmos is A Lonely Place on A New York City Subway (#5)

Kenneth DiMaggio

It’s a game I sometimes play when-
ever the train is late: which one of
the passengers waiting on the piss-
smelling concrete platform would
push me or another passenger
in front of the train as it arrives?

The mentally Ill and homeless
are too obvious because even
when they are not ranting we
stigmatize them with a deviancy
that should be institutionalized
and not free to disturb
our morning commute

Certainly not the camel-hair
coated or power-pants-suited
going to work on Wall Street
and because they are
there is always
an undisturbed circle
around them

The custodian from Togo?
The au pair from Poland?
The busboy from Mexico?
—they are just struggling
to stay awake and not
fall back into a dream where
they will once again try to
reverse a great mistake

Who? Who? Who?

And as a line of cars pull in
to this station everyone furtively
looks around to see who
that might be

Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.

Problems with this page? Then deal with it...