A City Bus or Train

Ride a city bus or train 
And you will get a sense
Of humankind of every strain - 
Behold the evidence:

The old, the young, the thin, the fat,
The handicapped, the frail,
The homeless, jock or spoiled brat,
The baby set to wail.

The strollers hogging too much space,
The walkers inching past,
The bodies crushed up everyplace
Until your stop - at last!

You exit, glad to be outside
And grateful you can walk,
But that's the price you pay to ride
On transit in New Yawk.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Rigoler Avatar
June 6, 2024 at 7:23 AM
This is a prize winning poem! It moves with hustle and bustle – like bus and train! And I complain about my town's summer traffic here in Westerly! By comparison with New York's, it's got rigor mortis! / Maurice
Bauer Avatar
June 6, 2024 at 12:56 PM
thank you, maurice! i guess traffic is a problem everywhere...
Greenhough Avatar
June 4, 2024 at 1:39 PM
New York, New York. I wouldn't be a fan of it's transit busses. This is a fabulous poem that exposes everyday life in an apple. A good write.
Bauer Avatar
June 6, 2024 at 12:56 PM
thanks, hilda! you need a lot of time and patience to ride a city bus, that's for sure. i walk whenever i can...
Cunningham Avatar
June 4, 2024 at 12:43 AM
It great to be out and about in any mode of transport, you see the worst and the best of humankind. Tom
Bauer Avatar
June 6, 2024 at 12:55 PM
that is absolutely true, tom! thanks for the comment...
Bayles Avatar
June 3, 2024 at 10:01 PM
I like it especially "of humankind of every strain."
Bauer Avatar
June 6, 2024 at 12:55 PM
thanks for the visit, mike!
Borke Avatar
June 3, 2024 at 3:47 PM
I’m wondering if you have a parking spot that belongs to you, or else how do you manage a car?
Borke Avatar
June 6, 2024 at 1:11 PM
Not quality life to have to do that. If mass transit would be pleasant, roomy, and safe as it had once been, not having a car in the city would be a fair trade-off to suburban living. But your poem tells otherwise.
Bauer Avatar
June 6, 2024 at 12:54 PM
hey hannah! we do not have a parking spot but park on the streets, moving the car from side to side when they have to clean the roads. my husband has it down to a science...
M  Avatar
June 3, 2024 at 1:40 PM
Brilliant Poem Ilene….great imagery! So glad l have a car! Debx
Bauer Avatar
June 6, 2024 at 12:53 PM
thanks, deb! i do have a car but that's mainly for when we leave the city. much too stressful to drive in manhattan!
Gifford Avatar
June 3, 2024 at 1:01 PM
And don’t forget we have to face it all again on the return journey. Nicely done, Ilene. Enjoy your day.
Bauer Avatar
June 6, 2024 at 12:53 PM
thank you for stopping by, zyrool!
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