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"Writer "

(from The SubWay, a collection of poetry)

Systematic Neglect

Faulty switches and signal lights

Cracked tunnels leaking water

Inexperienced drivers trying to thread the needle

Is it any wonder, the crash he said

The three deaths he said

Neglected, slowed, rusted

breaking down

Passengers hanging from straps like swaying hindquarters of beef

If you don’t move to fix these lines, then you’ve got to close them, he said

More crashes he said

More deaths he said

Is that what you really want?

During rush hour, a train every 87 seconds

Later than that you’re dealing with overcrowding, bad air, suffocation, claustrophobia, an unruly mass of sweating bodies

Police will have to be called in

Buses are good for 24 years, streetcars for 40 years

Replace parts until there is hardly any metal left

Try doing that with your cars, he said

With the people, he said