Mondawmin MVA at Closing Time

"Now serving number
ninety at counter sixteen,"
robot voice drones on...

"That's why I say GOD
bless you," a man says to a
stranger behind him.

I pay bills. Children
crying. Women on phones say ~
"He grown, he too grown..."

"My phone 'bout to die
they had me on hold so long."
Lives intersect here.

Beautiful little
girl with braids smiles at me for
no reason I smile

Earlier I was
crying. My pain and struggles
merge with ev'ryone's.

~ written August 25, 2010