maniac laugh

from the boy across the aisle

and the day's too young

to find it cute.

then a whimper

then a wail

and people turn to stare

and they think thoughts

that they regret

my head got crowded

stumbling

i couldn't find the words

that said their thoughts are broken up,

brains all tied in knots but not

like infants

not like insults

behind me she's surprised

didn't know you had a son

its your first?

i did not know.

and up ahead a little girl

pets her plastic child