Subway Ride

Young child rests
in her father's broad arms,
smiles radiant white light
in the tunnel

I see her eyes
she sees mine
suddenly we both know
a really funny secret

She beams like the North star
unblinking, unwaivering
my laughter bubbles up
spills onto the page

Her mother notices
our giddy exchange
and as the family stands
she imparts to me
a larger rhyme
of her daughter's grin