satsuma

the man across the aisle wore the tallit beneath his jacket
I noticed as he stood up and I saw the knotted fringe.
I hold Jewishness in a curious kind of awe
so many rules to govern the simplest things in life.
he munched hungrily on a tuna sandwich
the noise of his eating and snuffled breath reverberating in the 'quiet' coach
then peeled a satsuma and the sharp citrus tang tickled my nostrils.
I awoke from a fitful sleep as we reached Euston
to see him folded uncomfortably into the tiny space
his knees tucked up against the seat in front.
it seems there was no rule pertaining to that.