Wow, yes, liked the poem. I've travelleed similar scenes on Perth
metro trains. Always it seems to be out of control young women who
have so much aggression as an individual. Young men seem to do it as a
pack on the streets.
Feels like it needs some tail-end narrative to me - Maybe what
happened to her two bags, or somesuch.
Andrew
On 23 January 2013 09:10, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> some experience all round!
> well told
> (we presume nothing invented by Bill) -
>
> my house move on 1 Feb is to a tram stop.
> I can then swap the perils of driving for the perils of public transport.
>
> Max
> (currently packing in Doncaster,
> moving to St Kilda Rd, Melbourne 3004)
>
> On 23/01/2013, at 7:08 AM, Bill Wootton wrote:
>
>> Publicly transported
>>
>> She swung on to the Smith Street tram with a can
>> of Jack Daniels and Coke clenched in her teeth;
>> bulky bag in each hand, slouched to a seat. Hot.
>>
>> Opposite her, a neat-collared man who was not
>> about to accept this affront sitting down,
>> must have muttered his immediate disdain.
>>
>> The girl's blank smile snapped from her face
>> and the main show began. 'What's it to you,
>> you old fuck?' voice gathering volume.
>>
>> No way out now, he must have given her,
>> sotto voce, more grist to work with. 'Hey!
>> Did you hear that?' she challenged us all.
>>
>> 'He said he was going to hit me. I'll have you
>> charged, mate!' Her right index finger arced down
>> at him, left hand with clasped can hovering,
>>
>> the effect like a bird of prey with wings
>> lifting, prior to ascent. 'You heard him,' she
>> flashed round to the hapless tram driver,
>>
>> cringing in his closed cubicle, from where he
>> had attempted placatory words and gestures
>> but had only upped the anger ante. Next stop,
>>
>> an old lady hobbled on with walking stick.
>> Mister Jones loomed to his feet, offering
>> his seat. Time for a regenerative can slurp.
>>
>> 'Watch out for this fucker ... ah sorry
>> lady, for language ... but he threatened me.'
>> A distinct word now carries from Standing Man:
>>
>> 'Uncivilised.' A wispy-bearded young Malaysian
>> opposite me hazards a grin. I don't return it.
>> Other passengers shift sweatily in their seats.
>>
>> Her flick knife is out and up, blade waving
>> under the man's nose before anyone can react,
>> even if they had the daring to do so.
>>
>> Collared Man stands on but understands now
>> what he's bought into. Edges off at the next
>> stop. Victoria Parade. Away. But no -
>>
>> she's following him off. 'Ya bald, fat fuck!' Her
>> skimpy top rises as she clambers down, exposing
>> a thin, sun-denied midriff, lightly bruised. Bing!
>>
>> The tram shoves off, bound for Bourke Street
>> and beyond. I turn but already the two have been
>> swallowed in milling Melbourne pedestrians.
>>
>> Bill Wootton
--
Andrew
http://hispirits.blogspot.com/
'Undercover of Lightness' http://walleahpress.com.au/recent-publications.html
'Shikibu Shuffle'
http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/new-from-aboveground-press-shikibu.html
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