burdened with bags I jostle
onto the trolley.
young guy, buds in ears
asks, “Sir, would you like this seat?”
refusing his offer I thank him
for his kindness.
trolley lurching
me gripping the chrome bar.
lurch and stop and lurch again.
should have accepted the offer
from this handsome surfer,
gracious and young
I fight the urge to
whack him in the face.
For over fifty years Michael Jack O’Brien has published in print and on-line journals, most recently, Blue Heron Review, Madness Muse Magazine, One Person’s Trash, and Colloquial. Also, his work has appeared in three anthologies: Gridlock: Poetry of Southern California, Proposal on Brooklyn Bridge, and California: Dreams and Realities.
