The early morning
bright sun slants across the platform
Illuminating the
silent commuters waiting for the train
Such a throwback scene
to set my thoughts wandering
Thinking of all the
people who have stood here before.
The train ride is
pleasantly smooth unlike the lurching bus
And so affordable these
days since I get senior half fare
But in the quiet car
the passengers announce their presence
Filling the air with
constant coughs and sniffles.
Looking out the window
at low tide in the meadowlands
Tracking past yellow
marsh grass and black brown mud exposed
Natural curves of
drainage streams bridged by steel angles
Crossing the wetlands
where as yet open space remains.
Soon after we enter
the dark nineteenth century tunnel
When the train clangs
its warning bell waking the dream riders
Announcing our
destination soon to be at the end of the line
Emerging to run on
parallel tracks with our contemporary arrivals.
Everyone stands when
the train finally stops, waiting our turn
To step into the flood
of foot traffic leaving the station
Where I split off to
take a moment to admire the waiting room
And take a quick look at
the changes to the Hoboken waterfront.
Gone is the giant
Maxwell House neon sign by the factory
Seen like a beacon
across the river in my Manhattan years
Replaced by upscale
high rise residences and trendy night life
Drawing the weekend
youth who turn this trip into a party train ride.
Not knowing what this new
day will bring
Traveling from there
to here transports me suspended
From then to now I
return again to a different city
Belonging to the people
who frequent the place today.
Standing still in the full
PATH train under the river
Waiting to proceed in
the morning rush congestion
Looking into the mostly
young faces around me
Looking away if they
look back.
Funneled in a mass to
the Fourteenth Street station exit stairs
Percolating up slowly we
merge and emerge
Greeted with the sounds
and smells and sights of New York
Including a patina of
red and orange leaves strewn underfoot.
In the middle of the sidewalk
a large full suitcase
Left unattended in the
cold raises a question
And a man stops by it
and looks around wondering
What is the back story
how this came to be here.
The cop directing
traffic at Fifth Avenue is unaware
The security guard at
the corner of University knows not
The traffic patrol car
coming up University likewise
And there is no need
to do anything.
