Sunday, May 22, 2011

A Peep Show in the Railway Compartment

It isn’t a night coach, quite--

Evening train would be a fitter name

Authorized vendors perilously sway

Up and down the compartment’s aisle

Like sliders on slide rules,

balancing business on their callused hands.

A doubtful student couple across from me

Pinch and pilfer every chance and cover

For their stringent precious privacy.

Their eyes take over their speech

Their secrets are none of public business.

Their joy, though, requires public consent

Which they are loath to seek at the moment.

I steal a look

And return to my book

Hopelessly trying to concentrate.

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