Poems

“Tunnel Vision”

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“Tunnel Vision” © C.P.Hickey 2018

 

 

“Tunnel Vision”

 

Down in the earth.

Dug out.

Hide out.

Subterranean surreal.

What sounds come from train tunnels when there are no trains?

Real rails.

Solid, metallic.

Rigid and bendy.

Electric wires spun like webs,

waiting to coax conveyances through.

Darkly lit depots.

Abandoned newspapers, soon extinct.

Browning yellow warning strips minimally offend.

Deeper still are secrets.

There must be more to these cobbled caverns.

Each station the tip of an archaeological iceberg.

Years upon years of gradual being.

Patient.

Amounting.

Mini ant colonies.

Industrious fellows.

Graffiti.

Neglect.

Earthen girth.

Shadows.

Buried fears.

Ghosts of progress.

Terminal.

A way underneath, not on, or through.

Echoes of screeching metal wheels appear.

Waiting.

Waiting infinitely.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

Don’t know, I’ll ask the driver.

Poems

“The Twelve Days of MBTA’MAS”

On the first day of Christmas, the MBTA gave to me, a delay due to medical emergency.

On the second day of Christmas, the MBTA gave to me, two napping employees, and a delay due to medical emergency.

On the third day of Christmas the MBTA gave to me, three broken escalators, two napping employees, and a delay due to medical emergency.

On the fourth day of Christmas the MBTA gave to me, four lost tourists, three broken escalators, two napping employees, and a delay due to medical emergency.

On the fifth day of Christmas the MBTA gave to me: FIVE FARE HIKES, four lost tourists, three broken escalators, two napping employees, and a delay due to medical emergency.

On the sixth day of Christmas the MBTA gave to me, six loud cell phone conversations, FIVE FARE HIKES, four lost tourists, three broken escalators, two napping employees, and a delay due to medical emergency.

On the seventh day of Christmas the MBTA gave to me, seven unexpected shuttle buses, six loud cell phone conversations, FIVE FARE HIKES, four lost tourists, three broken escalators, two napping employees, and a delay due to medical emergency.

On the eight day of Christmas the MBTA gave to me, eight people eating garlic and onion sandwiches, seven unexpected shuttle buses, six loud cell phone conversations, FIVE FARE HIKES, four lost tourists, three broken escalators, two napping employees, and a delay due to medical emergency.

On the ninth day of Christmas the MBTA gave to me, nine nail clipping nitwits, eight people eating garlic and onion sandwiches, seven unexpected shuttle buses, six loud cell phone conversations, FIVE FARE HIKES, four lost tourists, three broken escalators, two napping employees, and a delay due to medical emergency.

On the tenth day of Christmas the MBTA gave to me, ten homeless folks asleep on the seats, nine nail clipping nitwits, eight people eating garlic and onion sandwiches, seven unexpected shuttle buses, six loud cell phone conversations, FIVE FARE HIKES, four lost tourists, three broken escalators, two napping employees, and a delay due to medical emergency.

On the eleventh day of Christmas the MBTA gave to me, eleven oversized backpacks, ten homeless folks asleep on the seats, nine nail clipping nitwits, eight people eating garlic and onion sandwiches, seven unexpected shuttle buses, six loud cell phone conversations, FIVE FARE HIKES, four lost tourists, three broken escalators, two napping employees, and a delay due to medical emergency.

On the twelfth day of Christmas the MBTA gave to me, twelve commuters suffering MBTA-PTSD, eleven oversized backpacks, ten homeless folks asleep on the seats, nine nail clipping nitwits, eight people eating garlic and onion sandwiches, seven unexpected shuttle buses, six loud cell phone conversations, FIVE FARE HIKES, four lost tourists, three broken escalators, two napping employees, and a delay due to medical emergency.