Yesterday I heard

a thought

(partially baritone)

jump in front of the train

as I stepped one tile closer

to the tracks but it wasn’t

quite a voice (an aftereffect)

shouting (from below,

a command) “Jump!” 

it was a headfirst shove

yanking my hair (too late)

so I saw the cars blur by me

in perfect sync, (the delay

of thought to action) rushing

past while slowing down. 

I lurched back, my hand

cupped my gasp, I heard

my name, no, a chime

release the flood of passengers

that (faceless voice) overtook me, 

the tide ebbed and I slipped through 

(a question of ownership)

the crowd and into a seat that melted

together (the second between

life and the train) the basilica,

its dome with its belltower

that pierced the sky, and the apartments

nearby, how they mashed together

and disappeared after colliding

with the tunnel.