A reckless tagger receives just punishment via D train
causing a two hour delay on the Brooklyn bound R:
this is no more than just another news report.
A crowd of New Yorkers making signifying watch glances,
cursing “tunnel traffic:” the MTA monicker
for graffiti vandal run down by braking D train.
The law-abiding on news blogs call it “poetic justice,”
this blending of sprayed blood and yellow paint:
“just”, callous commentary now driving the news report.
But what if baggy jeans’ NYU art degree taught him
to make spray paint breathe life onto grimy walls? —
a famous tagger cut down early by the big D.
Maybe sharp screams could puncture their impatience
with thoughts of electrocution and broken bones.
Would they condone his craft, then, below the news report?
Why these red faces, this pacing and racing breath,
this shared laughter? I hope the train was okay —
an artist’s memory murdered when New York mourned
the commute. This boy is more— this boy is no more.
