boarding a train
I make my way up the stairs
to the top level
so that I can
look down at the world
as it flies by
but such debauchery
only makes me dizzy
so I content myself
with looking down
on those below me
through the luggage bars
I see a man
dark skin, blood-shot eyes
a brown paper bag
in his twitching fingers
a couple jumps on last minute
white skin and white clothes
they cram into the only seat
one facing my new black friend
I watch them squirm for room
their knees bumping his long legs
but he does not move
just stares at them blankly
as if he could read their minds
and on the next stop
when a secluded seat in the back empties
they get up and move
and his eyes turn up towards me
accusing, white glare from a dark man
and I want to scream at him
to stand on my padded seat
and sing as my feet
tap out a frantic jungle beat

"THEY AIN'T HATIN' YOU BLACK MAN."