The Underground is a kaleidoscope: br at each station, a new shake; and br br according to your mood br every shake’s a magnification br br of your love of humanity; or br confirms your worst fears; br br shake br br I’m sitting with the article br I wrote at home, hunched br over the keyboard br in a smaller world br br now I’m revising it in private br but in this public space br of this kaleidoscope; it’s good this way. br br shake br br A lad sits down next to me. After a minute br I feel he’s discreetly reading what I’m editing. br br I love this game. I tilt the paper imperceptibly br so he can read it better.. br careful not to give the game away.. br br shake br br He’s interested; he’s not reading idly; now br he’s not hiding his reading any more; br br now, he can’t restrain himself at br the top of the page as I turn over.. br br his eyes shine. He stubs his finger at a quote br ‘Meditation makes me feel more myself…’ br br ‘That’s it! That’s it! ’ he says; as if br I didn’t believe my own quote.. br br shake br br He’s out the next station; that’s br all he needed. All I needed. All it needed. br br How bright the underground kaleidoscope br shines now.