White paper sticks to your skin & becomes sinew
& dust your pores
tar & mud
The ruffled necktie is fat-tight around your neck
You get migraines thinking of tomorrow's meetings
This crochet togs does a good job
of hiding your bad-hair days & dull-tired eyes
You wear it often now
And as you amble, your robe brushes with chalk
& tail gates a car chasing a wild omen
The gum in your mouth salivates like a priest
There's a message scribbled on your wrists -
Is it from carnival house, looped in plastic bracelet
Smooth as marketing pitch
Or is it from ticket retailer, black stamped-
Valid for today only
The red-moon is in shadows
Smear tree sap, coat it again in bird plumes
Finery
In one eye
Dream starvation
In another eye
You lost the zipper tab
And you can't get out of the tight suit
Sleep-walk on streets
Armed with nothing, not even your ID card
No one notices you
anyway
in crowded 4:30 pm subway train.
Photography credit: Phyllis Galembo
Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Poetics - Photography of Phyllis Galembo ~ Hosted by Anthony P ~ Thanks for your visit ~
At 4:30 p.m. I would guess most everyone blends in on a subway train. Easy to be anonymous and unnoticed. You took this photo in an interesting direction, Grace.
ReplyDeleteEasy to be anonymous in the crowd Mary ~ Thanks for the visit ~
DeleteI love where you went with this, Grace.
ReplyDeleteThank you Laurie ~
DeleteIt took three looks for me to see the hand in the photo. I love how you broke down each piece in the photo, made it its own story. At least, that's how I read it. Beautiful. As always, thank you. Have a beautiful day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Elsie ~
DeleteSubway trains will ne'er be a perfect place to get noticed (ah, my comfort). There's just too much uninvited lines stroking in multi-directions to draw your shape good. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteI agree, specially during rush hours ~ Thanks Kelvin ~
DeleteStuck and not seen as things move on, can be tough until you see a new dawn
ReplyDeleteThanks Pat ~
Deletecan you imagine no one noticing you still? ha. oy, a commentary on our society...i like how you built this...the little details...the tag on the wrist from the carnival house....the need to hide the tired eyes as well...a complex piece grace...i like....smiles.
ReplyDeleteI get this vibe in the subway train when everyone is trying to avoid each other's eyes ~ I supposed we are just to polite to look straight in the eyes of strangers ~ Thanks Brian ~
DeleteSimple but intertwined with messages.
ReplyDeleteWell crafted, beautiful and sad.
Thanks Gail ~
DeleteAnonymity is a terrible thing, especially when it is not confined to the 4:30 pm subway train.
ReplyDeleteI like your commentary about 4:30 time ~ How terrible if its all the time ~ Thank you ~
DeleteWonderful piece of writing ~ and I adore the last but one stanza
ReplyDeleteSpooky. Your words echo the image.
ReplyDeleteGrace very detailed and intriguing. Wonderful imagery and tightly woven. >KB
ReplyDeleteYou found the undiscovered county of poetics, creating a wonderful wordplay from the image; loved the lines /finery in one eye/dream starvation/in another eye. Had a few dreams myself of being naked on a subway, & being unnoticed; great work here.
ReplyDeleteThere are actually some crazy people who do parade themselves once in a while in the subway Glenn ~ Funny thing is people just ignore them too, smiles ~
DeleteA great poem, Grace. Beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteoh i know many of them... and sometimes i feel a bit like this as well..
ReplyDeleteevery line in this is amazing... on so many I was smiling at how great they were
ReplyDeletemy fav:
"And as you amble, your robe brushes with chalk
& tail gates a car chasing a wild omen
The gum in your mouth salivates like a priest"
love the end as well, all that going on, but you're on a crowded subway
who cares? ...smiles
Thanks for the challenging prompt ~ Everyone is just eager to go someplace at that time ~ Thanks Anthony ~
DeleteI think anonymity can be a blessing and a curse - sometimes, it can be good to hide! Although if I was on the 4.30pm train home, I'd be in trouble for leaving work early! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a feeling I get since I am riding the subway morning and afternoon ~ I start early at work, so I get off early too smiles ~
DeleteI don't know. I think I'd notice somebody in this getup. Just kidding. I appreciate the psychological dimension you went with this. Strong, sharp and colorful language too, a good match for the image.
ReplyDeleteCanadians are very polite, no one will noticed your strange ways or get up in the subway or train ~ Thanks for the lovely commentary Mark ~
DeleteThis is terrific, Grace; I think there are times it is almost beneficial to be anonymous, but not seen or heard is a terrible thing and this costume is full of material for your subject!
ReplyDeleteThank you Katy ~
DeleteExcellent Grace, lovely place as anonymous as it is, to end your poem.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your visits Michaelt ~
ReplyDeletei sometimes feel a bit like this.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem Grace and always make me think:)
ReplyDeleteSortimes isn't bad be anonymous:)
ReplyDeletehow few look, even fewer see
ReplyDeleteYesss. I loved this, Grace--each verse its own vignette, each little story identifiable by most every human life, but written by nobody--like only YOU can do. Seems like you keep pushing yourself up--and away--from the crowd--even while IN the crowd.
ReplyDeleteLiked this a LOT!
What a contrast to Brian's poem - this is not the anger bursting out, but resignation to the humdrum, the necessary protection and masks we put on, how we turn into anonymous. A sigh of recognition at the following lines:
ReplyDeleteThis crochet togs does a good job
of hiding your bad-hair days & dull-tired eyes
You wear it often now...
To be different, to not fit the mold is the easiest way to become invisible.
ReplyDeleteVery fanciful construction! With each line the interior of the overstuffed and hidden becomes an entity with a day to day life and very human identifications. Well done.
ReplyDeleteStrange happenings in the subway but others are not bothered. They are hardly noticed. Even seeing each other every day but they remain strangers. Nicely Grace!
ReplyDeleteHank
yeah...sometimes we're not seen because nobody wants to see us, and other times we're not seen because we hide who we are. Great piece!
ReplyDeleteAt first glance this photo lends itself to whimsy (that's where I took it), but you dug deeply and came up a feeling, an experience I could certainly relate to. And I love the bad hair day reference!
ReplyDeleteThe second stanza is absolutely fabulous. Its last verse is the best part: "The gum in your mouth salivates like a priest". Well done!
ReplyDeleteI like the 4th stanza..dream starvation in another eye..we need that sleep so we
ReplyDeletecan dream..
I found this to be very intriguing. Like a reflection and commentary on our society.
ReplyDelete"The gum in your mouth salivates like a priest"
ReplyDeletewow. powerful, Grace.
hope you have a nice Easter ~
Once again I have missed the red moon. I wonder how many times I have read about something in other's writings and bemoaned the fact that that opportunity passed me by. I love the story and the details you paint in the piece. Thank you for your visit and comment over at my place. :)
ReplyDeleteA great deal of tension herre--I agree with Michael that the line about the gum is especially memorable--but it all creates quite a portrait. K.
ReplyDelete