Commuting Life — A Poem.

While reflecting on 2020 and life before and after covid, I wrote a poem that imagines the commute as a microcosm for the journey through this distracting life of ours.

The train is at the station
It is time you got on
Is it going your way?
Will you have your say?

Headphones in; music playing
Everybody else is staying
In their phone
You’re on your own

With strangers in a silent crowd
Heavy heads full, and loud
Of thoughts and words and song
Wondering where we belong

Is, this, our universe
A blessing, or a curse?
How are we to know?
Is this the way to go?

When heads are fixed toward the ground
We don’t even hear a sound
Feet are in the air
We don’t seem to care

But hey, this is a one way ride
Away from yesterday
Heading for tomorrow
Passing through today

Can we all just hold our heads high
Don’t dwell on yesterday
Don’t fret about tomorrow
Focus, on today

Roll into the station
A final, destination?
How was it?
Did you notice it?

— Paul Gillen. 2020