Jeltje Fanoy #27 Mayhem on th trams/trains

One evening,
passengers fought
back, with branches
torn off trees


beating up a group of inspectors


our conductors sacked,
th drivers caged
for their own protection,
from us, no longer their passengers


but potentially dangerous customers


someone poured glue into th ticket machines


thugs were hired to check our tickets,
they appeared in gangs, wearing
coats that made them look like the KGB


ticketless teenagers were assaulted


we were witness
to daily harassments,
interfered, at times,
screamed at th inspectors,
it was mayhem on th trams
as well as th trains, without guards


or station staff


now we have armed, but semi-trained
authorized officers pacing th trains and trams


there's an unnerving silence, when they get on