1

          A little shaky,

I sit in the subway car, watching a woman read.
          Slowing my breath to match hers,
we travel together under the earth.

    2

          A man in a business suit, my age,

gray hair, working his Blackberry—
          hunched over, newspaper
balanced on one knee, head bowed as if in prayer:
          brother, should we cry? Laugh?

    3

          A woman sleeps next to me. What luck

to see loneliness
          given rest.

    4

          “It’s coming so fast,”

says an old woman across from me,
          speaking to no one in particular:

she nods her head in agreement with herself
          and strictly speaking
who can argue with her?