In The Underground

Train drew up.
Doors flew open.
Three men left…
Nobody stepped in.
Long pause (nobody explained).

Alone on a bench
Sat a young man,
Hands between his knees,
Head sunk, as if
It would never lift again.
Long pause.

A woman came:
Not young, not old,
Not dark, not fair,
In dusty uniform:
Knelt before him,
Placed her two hands on his,
Looked at him in silence.

At last he lifted his head,
His face transfigured.

Doors shut.
Train shuddered into its tunnel.