Brass Plaques (a Pantoum)

The metro is a train that runs in the eternal night;
Transporting us who go towards its invisible ends.
We faceless body of our own clever invention--
Gaudy suits and ties, clacking heels with black stockings.

Transporting us who go towards its invisible ends--
A snake burrowing underneath a world composed of
Gaudy suits and ties, clacking heels with black stockings.
One trip is five minutes of lost memory, empty silence.

A snake burrowing underneath a world composed of
Memories of a better future free of disease and fear and
One trip is five minutes of lost memory, empty silence.
When I take his business card, I know I won't call him back.

Memories of a better future free of disease and fear and
The inevitability I will eat chicken tenders by myself tonight.
When I take his business card, I know I won't call him back.
Oh disaster, strike us, perhaps! Shatter the illusion!

The inevitability I will eat chicken tenders by myself tonight
Destroys whatever health I gained from jogging this morning.
Oh disaster, strike us, perhaps! Shatter the illusion!
Judge us, and let us see our faults, and our dirty lies.

Destroys whatever health I gained from jogging this morning--
But then again, there is no love which could hurt my self-esteem.
Judge us, and let us see our faults, and our dirty lies.
Next time I step on that metro car, and must stare at the wall--

But then again, there is no love which could hurt my self-esteem,
And I sat in a hearing today in which my tie matched so well.
Next time I step on that metro car, and must stare at the wall,
I'm bringing earphones and a store of songs I could never sing.

And I sat in a hearing today in which my tie matched so well,
We faceless body of our own clever invention--
I'm bringing earphones and a store of songs I could never sing;
The metro is a train that runs in the eternal night.