Around the World

One day I took the subway and I went around the world From one car to another a new nation’s flag unfurled The train took off from Brooklyn and I hopped on at Times Square and by the time that I got home I’d been most everywhere The couple that spoke Yiddish, and hurried on their way were deep in conversation which she ended with, “Oy vey.” And then I heard some talking that turned out was Portuguese At first I thought was Spanish might as well been legalese Rushing through the last three cars so packed, I had to squeeze I heard an “Arigatou” which I know is Japanese “La vita non è facile” I smiled because I knew The woman spoke Italian and the meaning came right through Then right before I exited the girl who dropped her toy Said “Shukran,” as she took it from the little Arab boy There aren’t many places you can hear a language mix After work, around the world and still be home by six