Pungent Emotions
Autumnal smells full of pungent
emotions, sweat on the cloth seat
twelve hours a day driving along
narrow laneways, wide congested
streets and during the full moon
vaguely seen by eyes unfamiliar
to bright sunshine when he drives
customer to the airport, a good run
the taxi driver ponders on today’s
take, a slow shift, perhaps in the afternoon
when the offices close he might
get a little boost, needs to go over
one hundred dollars to call it a fair
day’s earnings, enough for his tight
budget; the customer in the back seat smokes
an aromatic cigarette, he asks the name
of the cigarettes, the customer offers him
one which he takes brings to his nose,
yes, aromatic indeed, a jasmine scent,
special cigarette shop in Gastown carries
such delights, his customer says, taxi driver
chooses to light his special smoke after
his supper a smile appearing on his face,
the world can be beautiful even when
one drives a cab for a half-decent living.
Manolis Aligizakis 