Metrocard

the stairs to

the electric train

covered with slime

and discarded

metro cards

stuck like the plastic

scales of a strange

metal animal

that slid through

these cheese grater

stainless steel turnstiles

then across the broken tiles

towards the dark tunnel

horn screaming

bright light eyes

snapping open

happened just a minute ago

I can still feel

the back draft wind

coming up the platform

I just missed it

when I slide

my card

the LCD says

‘Insufficient

Fare’

happens every time

I toss my card

into the slime

and get another

one.