Adorned, ready I boldly stride,

beyond the threshold, a door. Outside.

The bitter winds they catch my face,

caressed by winter’s cold embrace.

My journey clear, a route, I must

depart, go forth, with meanings, just.

My feet alight the stony ground,

upon the path my footfalls sound.

To reach a destination far,

in time to board a woeful car.

Trudging while in my despair;

Not alone, I see others fair

not even half as well as me,

only sorrowed faces, my eyes do see.

By cold, grey sun their faces lit.

I think “Monday morning’s fucking shit.”

In unison we trudge ahead,

to work, to earn our daily bread.

A horde of groggy, wearied drones,

Enslaved and tethered to white iPhones.

In formation, trudge we, to our fate

To the loathsome, blackened , filthy gates.

So routine now to scan, traverse

into a personal universe.

Remove ourselves from the outside world,

Bask in our cords, headphones unfurled.

Then woe betide, my progress stifled,

I can’t go on, my life’s been trifled

with, and “what’s the meaning of this!” they say

This great oaf that’s standing in our way!

My panic stricken mind it flies,

Subject to querulous, fearsome eyes.

What can I do? This can’t be right!

I wish that I could leave, take flight!

Panic stricken, I search, despair,

for what is lost, gone from my care.

Not here, nor there in my possession.

A punishment for my transgressions?

My panic soon it turns to rage,

Like a rabid beast turned from its cage.

Such fury rises in my chest,

that something from my grasp was wrest!

Surrounding folk, taken far aback,

assaulted by my verbal attack!

My curses fall on fearful ears,

anger upon my mind is seared.

An outcry, mine, unleashed, unbarred!

“Where’s my fucking Oyster Card?!?!”