insufferable people
it’s city life
like the train ***
We see him way too much
once a week anyway - he's notorious.
you can’t just loom over someone
stand too close
I can smell him, gross
get out of my space
get out of my face
stay an arm’s length away
He makes me miss covid isolation
There’s vulnerability in human interaction
Charles asks me with his eyes
I look away - which says ‘no,’
but I’ll let you know.
As we slide into the station
I step back
and Charles steps between us
my exit, now behind Charles, is blocked from view
and Charles pivots to subtly block his exit
until the doors close and Charles steps out.
In football that would be a ‘pic’
in basketball a ‘rub’
but there are no flags here
no fouls or whistles
we’ve practiced this for years
sheering away, steering away
misguided messieurs
.
.
A song for this:
Cannock Chase by Labi Siffre
Jan 18
Jan 18, 2026 at 11:18 AM UTC
insufferable people
it’s city life
like the train ***
We see him way too much
once a week anyway - he's notorious.
you can’t just loom over someone
stand too close
I can smell him, gross
get out of my space
get out of my face
stay an arm’s length away
He makes me miss covid isolation
There’s vulnerability in human interaction
Charles asks me with his eyes
I look away - which says ‘no,’
but I’ll let you know.
As we slide into the station
I step back
and Charles steps between us
my exit, now behind Charles, is blocked from view
and Charles pivots to subtly block his exit
until the doors close and Charles steps out.
In football that would be a ‘pic’
in basketball a ‘rub’
but there are no flags here
no fouls or whistles
we’ve practiced this for years
sheering away, steering away
misguided messieurs
.
.
A song for this:
Cannock Chase by Labi Siffre
BLT Merriam Webster word of the day challenge 01/17/26:
Notorious known for something unfavorable.
Charles, a 55-year-old 6'4" retired NYC cop, has been my escort, driver, security and surrogate parent since I was 9 years old. My Grandmre hired Charles for me when a classmate was murdered in Year 7 (6th grade).
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