NOT FROM AROUND HERE

these cabbies stand around
outside the bar
all night long
occasionally getting fares
but mainly smoking
cigarettes
and drinking coffee

talking about how well
their little venture
is going
and how
come summer
they will be rolling in money
just carting it off
in their Crown Vics
to the bank
or the casino
or the after hours nightclub
they want to start

these cabbies
are not from around here
they don’t share the typical cynicism
that one develops
spending long winters alone
freezing your ass off
just trying to make it through
without swallowing
a bullet
or a bottle of pills

no, these cabbies
are definitely
not from around here
and for that
I think they might survive