the SEPTA haiku

Thanks for reading!

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:28:00 -0500

2008 yielded 366 haiku about people I saw on trains, buses, sidewalks and transit stops. (Plus 50 more not listed here about Philadelphia in general, as part of Moira Moody’s Philadelphia Scrapbook project: see here, here, here, here, and here.) The project rewarded me for keeping my ears and eyes open, teaching me not to take my surroundings for granted.

Thank you so much for following!

there’s a buzz on new year’s, and i don’t just mean the passengers are buzzed.

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

there’s a buzz on new
year’s, and i don’t just mean the
passengers are buzzed.

her legs are splayed to guard her giant suitcase on both overstuffed sides.

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

her legs are splayed to
guard her giant suitcase on
both overstuffed sides.

they seem like they’re on a first date; and he should’ve sprung for a taxi.

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

they seem like they’re on
a first date; and he should’ve
sprung for a taxi.

everyone looks plump and proud in new clothes after their holiday breaks.

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

everyone looks plump
and proud in new clothes after
their holiday breaks.

apologetic, she protests when i stop the car on her behalf.

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

apologetic,
she protests when i stop the
car on her behalf.

a child wets his pants. i’ll forget tomorrow; he’ll always remember.

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

a child wets his pants.
i’ll forget tomorrow; he’ll
always remember.

large, bright, dressed all in green, she reminds me of a smiling christmas tree.

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

large, bright, dressed all in
green, she reminds me of a
smiling christmas tree.

they’re overdressed and grinning, vibrating with love and shared excitement.

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

they’re overdressed and
grinning, vibrating with love
and shared excitement.

people visiting family in south jersey wear their finest sweats.

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

people visiting
family in south jersey
wear their finest sweats.

i always smile when i see someone board with a hot casserole dish.

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

i always smile when
i see someone board with a
hot casserole dish.

i could swear that she’s turning out her ankles so her boots’ fringe will twirl.

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

i could swear that she’s
turning out her ankles so
her boots’ fringe will twirl.

she marches, her clothes as neat and bland as any marching band costume.

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

she marches, her clothes
as neat and bland as any
marching band costume.

old man keeps glancing at his wrist, despite the fact that he has no watch.

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

old man keeps glancing
at his wrist, despite the fact
that he has no watch.

men in cabbie hats greeting each other with warm words and warmer smiles.

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:01:46 -0500

men in cabbie hats
greeting each other with warm
words and warmer smiles.

she pulls a camera out and aims at a stranger. we’re kindred spirits!

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:45:15 -0500

she pulls a camera
out and aims at a stranger.
we’re kindred spirits!

her backpack is so stuffed, when she sits, her body arches backwards hard.

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:54:08 -0500

her backpack is so
stuffed, when she sits, her body
arches backwards hard.

i wonder what else he thinks we think he’s drinking from a paper bag.

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:05:03 -0500

i wonder what else
he thinks we think he’s drinking
from a paper bag.

dyslexic signage: a bus cheerfully offers a “welcome abroad!”

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

dyslexic signage:
a bus cheerfully offers
a “welcome abroad!”

she reads txts aloud: “you’re the first blonde i’ve ever been with. feel...

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

she reads txts aloud:
“you’re the first blonde i’ve ever
been with. feel special.”