Waterfront Metro Station

through the speakersthe conductor’s voice scratcheda stop away from mine

we stood stillwaitingfor an explanationabout the hold up

late for dinnercraving sweatpants and wine

i shook my headat a fellow passengersharing our impatience.

a manhas jumpedthe tracksat waterfront.my stop.

and i can see himhow he decidedjumping

was the best way.figured the quaking earthwould understand

how his bones felt,

how they can rattle in the hollow.he believed

the only forgiving dresswas sewn of smoke.

and what hands scraped

him off the rails?did he have anyone to receive him:a box full of skull

shardsand scrap of a yellow shirt?were we all taking him in that night?

the woman i shared a moment with before

huffed through her teethchecked her watch again

leaned towards mewhisperingif you’re going to jumpat least be considerate

enough not to do it during rush houram i right?

noddingi politely half-smiledand screeching train brakes sounded like music.