stand away from the closing doors

you know
 all about
 the wifi
 the waiting
 where to stand
 but
 do you know
 about the doors?

 every subway car has 3 double doors

 you can hear
 the conductors
over the pa system
 as they instruct:

 stand away from the closing door
 or 
use all available doors to exit

 some subway cars
 seem
 to have
 door issues

 doors
 that must
 be
 opened/closed
 over and over and over
 before
 they are all closed
 and
 we can get on our way

 occasionally
 the door issues
 are
 so
 enormous
 everyone must exit the train
 so it can be returned to the yard for repair

 when the happens
 the crowds on the platform
 are huge
 and
 when the next train arrives
 already 
carrying
 a lot of people
 those waiting
 push in

 its like sardines
 ever see 
those photos
 of
 the tokyo subways
 the men on the platform
 helping
shove
push
jam
 people into the cars?
  its like that

  the other morning
 there was a 3 minute wait 
for the subway
 the last car
 where i always ride
 was crowded
 it was barely 7 a.m.
 we got to 72nd street 
the doors
 opened
 people exited
 the doors closed
 the doors opened
 the doors closed
 the doors opened
 the doors closed

 a lot 
of 
us
 were
paying 
attention
 new yorkers
 know
the sounds 
the subtle clues
something
was
wrong

 sure enough
 the conductor informed us
 there were problems with the doors
 our patience was asked
 then
 an express pulled in across the platform
 people leapt to their feet
 stood at the doors
 which
 did
 not
 open
 did not open

 the express
 waited
 a second or two
 then
 it closed its doors
 left the station


we remained
trapped
inside the cars
 doors closed
 in a non moving train

 there was grumbling
 there was a lot of watch checking
 then 
everyone settled back down
waiting
it seemed to take forever
 but 
it was just another minute
 before
 the conductor 
announced

 due to difficulties with the doors

loud groans 

 we'll be going express to times square

 relief

 we weren't being turned out
 onto
 the platform
 to wait
 for another local or express

 i think
 that by then
 locals 
were backing up
 along the route

getting us
 to times square
 express
 would make up
 the lost time
 and 
get the trains back on schedule

 no really
 there is a schedule
 go ahead laugh 
but there is