they crowd into the car
almost like children
having fun pushing and shoving
pkayfully. three black men making
up a choral group. all thin. all close
to the down
and out
introducing themselves-
not names-and their mission
and begin a song. dah dah dah
da, da da, da...singing bass
in up tempo gospel.
overcoming the noise,
snapping their fingers, doing
a bit of stomping. god, they are joyous.
their conversion of the subway car,
is a new york conversion:
going down the aisle,
some reach into pockets,
some look away,
then sneak looks,
some keep on reading.
that's the way this city spreads
but these guys
are not fazed
they will go on
to spread music in the next car
like strewing flower petals,
and the next and the next...
they are blessed, they say.
they say, thank you,
personally, to jesus, and the other
passengers for a buck, some change
in the here and now.
what an act, what a joyous act.
rd colman