Girl in the Subway

New York subway car
a sardine in a crowd
two guys talking trash
talking way too loud,
National Guard standing
gun at the ready
check for my wallet
my pulse rate steady,

Arrive at a station
doors snap wide
watch the crowd push
each other aside,
Two guys talking trash
slowly start moving
girl across from me
with earphones, grooving,

In her own world
somewhere far away
probably rides the subway
each and every day,
Dressed in black
head to her toes
what are the secrets
she only knows,

Three stops later
both rise to go
through the turnstile
up the stairs with the flow,
Sun shining bright
which I did not expect
very little chance
our lives might intersect,

World’s full of people
I’d love to meet
like in the movies
turn up the heat,
Casual conversation
a drink, a nice time
good that fantasy
is not a major crime,

The lady in black
heads the other way
can think of no words
which I might say,
Visualize her music
as I admire her walk
distance between us
increasing, block by block,