Impressions

My commute in so many words...sunshine in my eyes, pretty, not a trace of snow, rows of bikes, coworker's high-pitched, nervous talk, peasant blouse and shiny beads of peacock green, stomach growling, ready for dinner, blank spot on the ride, grimace and a seat by myself in back, Ian Fleming and Russian writers, line across the lake, clouds/smog, razor-thin and at horizon's edge, not much green seen as I'd have liked, mysteries and missteps, crowds milling and I'm looking at absolutely everybody, seeing everything, soaking it up like a sponge, receptive, El train droning roar, up the steps, fumbled feet, pleasant thighs and skinny jeans, on the platform, Chuck Taylors everywhere, train approaching, then on board again, minding the waning sunlight across downtown, the building shine, the mosaic waves on the river, northbound, no delays, not too crowded, tall gal with Jackie O hair and silver buckle shoes with black slacks, piercing blue-eyed gaze calls to mind a soul I know, her man's eyes ceramic blanks, they talk furtively, standing, another passenger ("customers" says the Transit Spokesman) has a serious hair-pouf, a regular brunette wave, another man wears a Tide detergent baseball cap, a seat by himself (drove the woman sitting next to him away), then lost time and space, I get distracted by the asses and then I'm off the train and on my way down and a hipster (looking like a young Shirley MacLaine) gives me a looking over in passing, makes me think my sideburns are probably getting too long, then I'm curbside and there are green beads a-flashing as barhoppers hop the bars and cars scoot by, I beat the light, past derelict saloon ("no time for Jameson, maybe in the morning") and I'm past dirty curb detritus, up brick-lined walk, long shadows, now, green lights strung specially for St. Patrick's Day at witchy home, broken brick walk fixed, girl-jogger thighs here and there in passing, then at another intersection, waiting, seeing "Bauknecht" thinking "Building Knight?" Right? German, "knecht" for "knight" and "Bau" for "Building?" Don't know, then past the smell of spilled beer and fresh leather (new shoes, mine, pewter-hued) and I'm home.