Tram Revelations (Prague)
Tuesday, March 24th, 20091-18-07
On the tram I take the window seat, then turn to realize that the paper schedule covers most of the window on my side, except for a small corner. I look out anyways, watching the scenery to pass the time. As I sit there, I realize that this is the way I see Prague all the time— one eye open, one eye covered. I can only see what is on the surface, and what little distance I can scratch below the surface by living here for a few months. I will never see the deeper, inner Prague. I will never fully understand the country or its people. What I see is the castle, Wenceslas Square, the Czech Joe-schmoe on the streets. Consequently, they will never see me as anything but one eye and half a face from the corner of a tram window.
***
My tram stop approaches.
The car lurches, and
the homeless man sleeping in the nearby seat
rouses,
shakes his head like an old dog,
and hunkers down again.
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