In the Seoul Metro

I've seen your tired souls

riding under the city

lost in the drowsiness

of morning calm commutes.

And when I've seen

all your lonely faces

reflected in glass

I think of Pound

and his metro station—

with faces like petals

on a black bough.

But this is shattered

during rush hour

when the subway

pulls into station

and push becomes shove

as white-gloved

subway push men

pack commuters into

waiting metal cars.