Anti-Human Classical

They wanted the tunnels clean by May,

to get all the homeless people out of there,

so they played music. In the LA subway,

tens of thousands of people every day

passed by with a secret wish they shared.

They wanted the tunnels clean by May.

Two young children going on their way

heard Vivaldi’s thrilling melody in the air

so they played. Music in the LA subway

echoes underground, its raucous ricochet

makes it clear to all those who sleep on stairs

they want the tunnels clean by May.

Those little spikes on benches made of clay

did not work—they wanted nightmares.

So they play music in the LA subway.

Will they play Beethoven on Doomsday?

Somebody might hear it, but they won’t care.

They wanted the tunnels clean by May

so they played music in the LA subway.

Henry Romain was born in Wyoming, grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, and studies English with an emphasis in Creative Writing at USC. You can follow Henry on Instagram here.