Cab.

A yellow car or truck or van

always floods the city streets

as people crowd the sidewalks

waiting for a ride—it’s cheaper

than driving yourself. It saves gas

and it’s one of the few places

where you can actually find

someone who wishes to talk.

Not just pretend. Like

‘how’s the weather?’ and

‘what do you do?’ and ‘cool.’

or ‘nice’ or ‘yeah, I have a friend

with that name.’ but real, honest

conversation. And then

the ride is over. You pay

your driver and leave.

You power on

to your destination

as your former driver

counts the cash. Then

he, too, departs and

everything continues on,

seemingly unnoticed—the

cab fading among the others—

and if you had a camera and

panned out, you’d see a sea

of yellow, almost mimetic

of blood.