Paying is for suckers

NYCUrbanScape on Flickr

From [to the turnstile bandits at the elmhurst avenue M/R stop] by Matthew Kremer:

he descends the stairs of the M/R line
and pauses for a minute
to survey the scene.
waits cautiously,
listening for the approach
of the eight-car manhattan train.
looks at all the gum splotches
beneath his rotting soles.
what was that noise? a radio?
over the course of three days--one
each in january, february and march--
clerks noted a whopping 329
fare-beaters at the station.
he makes a dash for it
like a wigged-out gazelle
over the turnstiles
down the stairs
and into the car.
a few stragglers see it
and shake their heads.
a photo of victoria saravia
flutters at the edge of the wall
in the gust of the departure.