The Commuter

by Robert Bruce (July 2019)

Painting by Nigel Van Wieck

And as sullen faces set down for a bitter pilgrimage

A ghastly pall fell on a carriage plunged into funereal silence

And nurturing sleepy hatreds it hurtled hesitantly into a sunlit wilderness

With every mans hopes shrouded in bitter anticipations of five days labours

Storing up the resentments of a long weekend

And looking forward

To a sun drenched half life

Whilst pretty young faces kindled dormant youth

And snatched courtesies and rictus smiles from men grown desperate by plyboard seats

Whilst a witless tannoy spewed it’s careworn apologies

To a man who had dreamt of being an astronaut
 

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Robert Bruce is a low ranking and over-credentialled functionary of the British welfare state.

More by Robert Bruce.

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