The Subway Lovers
He cares for her . . .
He paints lipstick on her lips
as she smiles, waiting
for the train to come
to pick them up
& take them somewhere
else.
He's brought his lover
a slice of pizza,
which she eats while
concentrating deeply.
He speaks softly
to her, while she concentrates
just so.
Her eyes skate off
in various directions, landing
on inanimate object;
The empty bench across
the platform,
on the other side
a trash bin, not
too far away;
the laces
on her
brand new shoes.
Both couples plan
for tomorrow, as if
if were a promise,
And their promises fall
on ears so full of hope
they need eyes to glisten off of
while their lips grow full & moist.
Ah! That dreamy look
where all love hides;
The vacant stare
seemingly to nowhere
yet, eternally
a constant stare
Into where everything of mystery
reveals itself in the instance
of a moment,
before Reality again.
And there's the string & string
that binds us all!
For however we perceive
Love to be;
There it is, in the darkest place—
In the bright broad light,
Obvious and plain
A mystery explained
that only They, today
Understand the total truth of it.
And no one can say
to be the other
wise.
Copyright Credit: Jesús Papoleto Melendez, "The Subway Lovers" from Borracho [Very Drunk]. Copyright © 2020 by Jesús Papoleto Melendez. Reprinted by permission of 2Leaf Press.
Source: Borracho [Very Drunk] (2Leaf Press, 2020)