Ugh, Not Again

My frustrating ride home, on TTC streetcar, yesterday.

A soft groan

Escapes from my lips

When the driver announces

The abrupt end

To my streetcar ride.

Kicking everyone off

As the streetcar is

Short routed.

Mentally

Cursing the person

Ordered this transvestite

Once again.

In groups

We gather

With our shivering body

During the afternoon rush hour

Awaiting the next streetcar.

Hoping and praying

We will be able

To get on it.

Knowing

There is no guarantee

We find a spot

To hang on.

A recorded voice

Tells the riders

To move backwards

Where little space

Exists.

Pitying

The poor soul

Who has to struggle

Through this sea of humanity

To exit

At their stop.

Using pain

To keep me

In the here and now

As an anxiety attack

Threatens to overtake me.

Until the crowds

Thinned out

Providing the need space

For my own mental health.

The long ride

Nears the end

As the streetcar

Approaches the station

And I transfer 

To a bus.

For the final leg

Of my trip

Home.

Author's Note

Too often, riders of the TTC streetcars, find themselves, waiting on the curbside, after their streetcar has been short routed, causing a cascade, which spills over to following streetcars, struggling to move it's passengers.

Reviews

[Bowers]

wow, this is awesome, such a great piece, very realistic, with great imagery, I love the reliability of this piece! so little space, so little air...!!! Love this write!

[therisa]

Thank you, Bowers, but I wish I didn't have to write, from personal experience.

[Bowers]

haha, so true at times, but sometimes when its personal, there more feeling, not always but sometimes!

[therisa]

It can depend on the subject, i know for myself, some poems, I disassociate when i write, and it reflects, in the end results.

[Bowers]

ah that is true, you are right! :) haha!

[Tina Louise UK]

I had to google them, never heard of a TTC streetcar before...I hate public transport, hate crowded
places! I'm a bit claustrophobic so I get bad anxiety in those situations. You did a great job describing this journey, felt I was there x

[therisa]

Oops, sorry. The TTC = Toronto Transit Commission.

Tia, I'm not claustrophobic, rather agoraphobic, result of the bullying abuse, I suffered on the schoolyard, from other kids. And thank you.