In her piece, $20 Taxi Ride, Senior Olivia Vande Woude invites us into the cab with her protagonist so that we really feel like we’re along for the ride. Thank you Olivia for this wonderful poem!
$20 Taxi Ride
Wears a Nike hat
Scar on his left wrist
3 centimeters long.
Inserts the key
on a chain with a yellow pig dangling
among other carefully serrated pieces of gold.
We are a lot of people in this country,
Ethiopia
I am from the Northern port.
Likes the quiet
of Alexandria
says it’s good for old people.
Told him I do too.
That’s good, that’s a great feature.
Yellow wool lined teeth
Sweater vest
Camel colored shirt, striped
Coffee and cigarette breath
Receipts lie
endless
on the floor.
Clock says 5:15
forever.
My wife works at a school for grown people,
student loans.
Has lived here 7 years
his mustache informs
and eyebrows tell.
“Morning Fresh”
pink car
freshener sways.
Unfolds glasses
with a plastic rim
to gently rest on dark ears.
Sits on a throne of 2 pillows
worn, sun faded
one of taupe
other of cheetah,
still comfortable.
Car cuts in front of us on Whitehurst Ave.
Complicated, no?
He chuckles.
City traffic bad, I go around
you see
I know the streets
more or less,
Parking problem? I inquire.
You’re right, it can happen that way.
Smiles.
Pass homeless under bridges
Easter Egg baskets
roll on their sides
in the bit of wind
Winter exhaust.
One time I got lost with a passenger
You miss exit,
I’m telling you, I’m telling you,
you’re lost.
Didn’t charge her the whole cost on the meter
when I went the wrong way.
It’s better like that
You have to be human, yeah.
Bad destination otherwise.
I live my life like that, it’s fine
Thank you God.
One man, he decepts me,
gave me $20,
made me give him $10 later,
I say, honest,
straight is better.
Don’t worry about others, they must change
themselves.
I agree.
Thank you, thank you.
Folds and puts down glasses
Pats finger on the crinkled spine of the map
Reassurance of our arrival.
That’s good, That’s good,
Whispers quickly.
Shall I stop here?
*Photograph: Marie Ungar