Hour of Madness

Beijing’s subway system is made up of 24 metro lines and an express line to the airport, resulting in 727 km of tracks. It is said that approximately between 10-13 million people travel the subway daily. It is cost-effective and reliable. I avoided travelling on Beijing’s subways at all costs. I chose to walk, to ride my bicycle or to take a cab. That is, until we headed out beyond the city. I then experienced humanity under pressure …

Subways intimidating

Confusing

Frenzied pace

Pushing, ramming

Frustration infiltrates 

Pulsates

Every cell

Ten bodies one meter

Heaving

No air

No space

Body odours shared

Humanity standing as one

Balancing 

Vacant stares

Heads nodding

Exhausted

Man herded in droves

Individuality lost

Stripped

Numbness overrides

Faces reflect aimlessness

Devoid of expression

Daily routine

Monotonous survival

Underlying emotions

Deeply embedded

To be later revealed

Man behind the mask

Voice of velvet

Never-ending wit

Makes it bearable

Eyes wide open

He truly sees

With deepened insight