Bright Yellow

Bright Yellow

written by: Stephanie Price

 

Standing aboard the Bakerloo line
I notice a man catch my train
He’s boasting a noticeably bright yellow jacket
And a shy little smile in vain

He’s barely made it on, you see
For he held the train door for a second, or three
To ensure a woman got her pram o’er the gap
Now he’s inside, sheepishly glancing at the map

How kind of him, I think to myself
Two lads on my right hardly looked up to help
But this pensioner reminds me of a time long ago
When character mattered and manners could flow

The three toned chime has him look for a seat
There’s one to his left, he sits in a beat
He lifts his right hand, sweeping rain off his head
I notice his greys, perhaps they used to be red?

For a moment we’re both in rhythm
Swaying along to the tube
I’m carefully counting lines on his brow like a tree trunk
I hope he wouldn’t think me rude

I want to ask how he’s doing
What’d he get up to today?
But that’s a bit weird, those chats now are more so kept at bay
But if I did speak to him, I’ll bet you this
I’d learn a thing or too, and admire his wit

Most passengers are aloof, engaged with a screen
Or eating things from wrappers,
While youths
show each other their memes

Hey kid I’m sure that TikTok’s real fun
But do you think it could wait just one more minute, hon?
Because perhaps this man’s seen famine and war
and experienced places you’ve not heard of before
he’s probably read books that have now been banned
and could teach about ideologies that have been canned

I’ve two stops left, before my time to depart
So, I pray over a stranger encountered in a train cart
I wonder how many words my smile can convey
I’m not sure, but as I leave, I hope it to say

Thank you, old soul for bringing some hope to my day
May others notice it too, and
Carry it forward
Without delay