T - Train in Summer

-
In sweltering anger
impatient passengers
board the train

Briefcases ram
while elbows jab
jostling for the last seat

Averting eyes from the accusing stares
of those dependent on it and denied

Heat weighs heavy on our shoulders
Evening’s dimming light offering no respite

from swelter fueled tempers
Reeking sweat and harsh words between strangers

Sharing train cars day after
long hot day
yet always remaining strangers

©2020 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved

Comments

  1. vesseysApril 23, 2020 at 8:15 AM

    love the tempo of your poem. Its very expressive and paints a vivid picture of a commute to work.
    Happy A to Zing
    Time

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LisaApril 23, 2020 at 9:40 AM

      Thank you. I don't have to commute, but imagine by train in the hot summers it must be very enraging!

      Delete
  2. Lynnette ForestApril 26, 2020 at 2:32 PM

    This definitely evokes memories of my subway commutes. Nice work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LisaApril 26, 2020 at 2:58 PM

      Thank you. Sorry it reminded you of your commutes!

      Delete
  3. Narayana Rao K.V.S.S.May 10, 2020 at 9:55 AM

    I think in Mumbai friendships develop in railcars.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Crow and Moon - Five Very Brief Poems

-
Image
Writers' Pantry #72   photo prompt: The Sunday Muse #162     Crow, or idea of Crow. Moon's interpretation. Crow admires. Crow-in-moon admires back. a moon a crow my soul is filled   Crow and Moon meet in reflection, their own counsel to keep.  Crow, speak to me, tell me secrets of the moon. ©2021 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved
Read more

A - Alphabet Haiku

-
It's April 1st, and time to start the 26 day alphabet countdown.  Every day, with Sundays off, I'll be posting a poem relating to that day's letter.  It may be a form (such as this one for A), a title, a subject, something to do with a prompt.  I fully admit, some will be better than others.  There is still time for you to join in.  www.a-to-zchallenge.com Here we go!  A - Alphabet Haiku  Alphabet haiku is an invented form created by Beatrice Evans.   Invented forms are new poetic structures that do not necessarily follow traditional or established "rules."  Alphabet haiku follows the traditional haiku syllable count of 5/7/5.  The only change required is each word begins with the same letter.   Wet windblown wastelands. Weary white winter weather. Wake, wonderous warmth! ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  F will be another A poetry form, the American Sentence.  
Read more

Taco-Mania

-
Image
 For the inaugural Friday Writings at Poets and Storytellers United (no more Writer's Pantry or Weekly Scribblings, they've been melded into one with an optional prompt), I went with the prompt, albeit quite unremarkably!  A haibun, but not.  In other words, a paragraph and a 5/7/5 that is not a haiku.  Nor is it a senryu.  So, it's that "everything else" form zappai!  Can it still be called a haibun then?  🤷   Also, the first Tuesday of the month over at Tanka Tuesday is Poet's Choice.  My choice is a... um... prose/zappai, of the Taco Tuesday sort! Friday Writings prompt : "...write poetry or prose about food: cooking it, eating it, sharing it, craving it, dreaming of it … the choice is yours."  I like tacos as much as the next person does. They’re really a perfect food, completely customizable.   Beef or chicken, both or neither.   Pile on the veggies and cheese, or leave them naked.    Sour cream with a ...
Read more