GENERATIONS Copyright (C) 1997 by Not Nice Music
I. IMPROMPTUS by Solomon S. Drogin

31. In the subway

And even if 'twere so
Mere man, what can you do?
Hurled thru space on wheels
The car does rock you to and fro
Yet with your pencil in frenzied mood
Write that these fingers keep busy

Maid in arms, pretty isn't she?
A proud mother, one of many
Is it her sister sitting beside her
Basking in reflected glory?

Sleep wearied man, face on palm
Perhaps you'd look better shaved
But remembering myself yesterday
What difference does it make?

She must be past thirty five
Yet dressed as one of nineteen
Crashed hat, pink dress, black shoe
What readest thosae so entranced?

The doors bang open
People rush in and out
Hiss, sputter, the air compresses
Door shut, the train moves on again

Write, ye son of a toiling father
Never will you toil as he
But perhaps life will fool thee
By giving thee early death
Nay, not so, I crave to live
And will toil, if need be, but please, not yet.