by Lawrence Miles
On two separate subway rides
in the last car of the uptown 4
you see the same
wide-eyed wide-smiled dress above the knee
woman
an escapee from a Fellini film
heading uptown
with a young man she constantly looks at
legs akimbo
tattoo on the ankle
conversation and smiles
movement and laughter
You think to yourself
if you always catch the last car of the uptown 4
at the same time at the same stop
will you see her every time
will you wonder how is this possible
will you pull compose verse about her
will you return her to Fellini
to be gazed in a near empty cinema
at the midnight hour
She keeps riding and laughing as you depart
you wonder if there will be a third time and
what will you think of the Fates
if there is a third time
will you wonder if a conspiracy is afoot
will you tell her of the wild coincidence
or will you simply get off at Grand Central every time
and allow the Fates to shrug their shoulders and walk away . . .
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