Catching Metro-North.

new-york-city-afternoon-manhattan

6:13 pm.
Madison Square Garden to Grand Central.
10 blocks North — 3 blocks East.
22 minutes to the 6:35 pm New Haven Line.
Rush hour. On foot.

Doable? Let’s go.

Tourists.
Suits.
Students.
Lovers.
Jaywalk.
Contractors.
Homeless.
Tourists.
Street Vendors.
Food cart. Pita. Gyros.
Cabs.
Pedicabs.
Bus tour hawkers.
Shysters.
Shopkeepers.
Jaywalk.
Three abreast.
Tourists.
Lollygaggers.
Messengers.
Bikers.
Tourists.
Black Cars.
Red lights.
Bumbin’Jostlin’ (Sorry!)
Jaywalk.
Walk signs.
Don’t walk.
Jaywalk.
Sidewalk.
Soft spring breeze.
Pungent marinating garbage.
Zig. Zag.
Smokers.
Tourists.
City Buses.
Car horns.

Grand Central!

6:35 pm.
Jogging.
Track 29.
Railcar red lights flashing.

Conductor looking right and left.
Eye contact made. Connection!
Thank you! 
No Problem!

I pause in vestibule,
Grip the cool stainless steel arm rail.
The doors slam shut.
The Train pulls away.

I find Seat.
Settle heavily.
Close eyes.

The overhead vent blows gusts of cooling air
which smother me and swallow me whole.

Bliss.

Still got it.


Notes:

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