Weary tears
Moisten lower lashes
Insufficient to fall free
Achy orbital cavities
Constrict the oculi
Head wrenching yawns
Cause sore jaw
Ear piercing pain
Drills drum deep
Bark parched throat clenches
Crunched up squashed in
Fifty minutes’ commute
Will soon be over
1. The three year old tests boundaries aboard the morning train. Hood doubling as a leash.
Screaming crocodile tears when repositioned back onto the seat.
Each escape a step further. Some onlookers smile in sympathy whilst others remain ignorant; enthralled by their phones.
2. Repetitive journeys over days, weeks, years, decades.
Seeing familiar faces yet never greeting or acknowledging their existence.
Silently, escalating to ground, filing to the day’s employment.
3. Evening commuters bunch and fan along the platform, aiming for uninhibited boarding, and to claim a seat; politely pushing, easing through the throng, seeking advantage.
Sunset, Newtown, Australia.
Two buses go past as I wait for the green man to appear.
There are two people loitering near the stop. There’s no sign of the express service in the crawling metal convoy before me. I decide to take the train.
I walk briskly towards the railway station. There is usually an ant like line of pedestrians along this route, not today.
I notice the purple green leaves of a ginger in bloom.
As I near my destination I see yellow and silver carriages setting off to the city.
I smile to myself, at least I have captured a moment of morning stillness.
theINFP 