Portrait of A Selfish Man

On 14th Street he stopped a top the stairs leading down to subway platforms

talking on his 'smart' phone

probably not wanting to lose the signal before descending

I thinking

And I could not pass

On My way

and neither the people waiting

behind me

We cannot get around him

for there are people streaming up from below

up from subway cars and the dirty platforms trudging up the stairs and

some breathing heavily

I tried to say something such as:

"Step aside please."

Though he would not hear me

as his ears are stuffed with talking plastic

I dare not touch him

as who knows such move of mine

would elicit –

anger and violence(?) -

He finally finished and bounding, bounding wildly down the stairs

pell-mell

with abandon -

involuntarily seemingly

almost pushing one unfortunate soul back down

the stairs

so carefully that old woman trying to make her way up

flip flop by flip flop

some may have found his movements 'exciting!'

or even ‘masculinely focused(!)'

others perhaps

considering the behavior damning –

even dangerous

now he streaks ahead of people

& me too

and now he is standing

in front of the only stainless steel caged encased full up body turnstile

in this vicinity

and as it happened I am standing behind him

again;

with my Metro Card out at the ready

His was not

He was fumbling in his pocket -

for what?

finally finding his wallet

and he is now fumbling hopefully with the intention of extracting his

Metro Card

I suggested LOUD ENOUGH

so I making sure he can hear...

"STAND ASIDE MAN!

LET ME THROUGH!

While you are finding what you need..."

And he looking around staring up at me blankly

with just a hint of anger flashing passing through his face

and surely on mine

extracting 'his'

Metro card

and swiping the card through the reader

Not even looking he barging ahead

banging into the  eleven thick stainless steel tongs

and he bounced back

stumbling

in surprise


The (cagey steel) turnstile would not let him in

The turnstile would not let him through

would not allow him

on in

‘not let him through!’

And we both staring at the read out

on the clean grey stainless steel stand

the read out:

'Insufficient funds'

and I am about to suggest -

and then I thought:

'Screw it!’

I left him fumbling still in his wallet again so sure he is as

A Portrait of a Selfish Man