New Paltz Trailway Tankas

3/13/2007

Cold fluorescent light;
Student reads book on the bench
while wriggling her feet.
Red letters say ATM
Above the silver machine.

Black girl sits on bench
Studying her fingernails
With self-conscious pout.
Outside people shift and wait;
One man stares into the air.

Man with beret yawns,
Then goes back to his writing;
But wait! That is me!
Two cars in the parking lot
Their tail lights softly glow red.

Man walks through the door
Lightly touches pouting girl;
He comes to meet her.
The two swish out of the room.
Once again it is empty.

Girl strides through the door
Heading for the ATM
Machine makes strange tones.
Her head is bent like praying,
Then the money slithers forth.