strange strange feeling

Once I was
leaving Israel
and this El Al
woman
came screaming
to the line of
ticket holders
"bomb threat
follow me!" and
we all ran
full of dread and
then she changed
her mind
told us "it's OK" and
everyone just returned
to their spot on line

and I have this strange
strange feeling now
eleven years later
that almost no-one
remembers that
moment
I think of this
as I sit paused on
a New Jersey Transit
train
a mechanical delay
we all sit in the dark
then we start to move
and everyone forgets
almost

-2002