I have one left and it might as well be from Ancient Egypt, that brass token with an inverted peace sign, an object that can’t be “swiped.” I keep it in a box. How about you?

Did you ever wonder where all those old tokens live today? Or are they buried somewhere under tracks? I imagine there is one dresser someplace hoarding all the tokens of the world. It belongs to an old woman with lots of cats.

What are your associations with this little round metal object? For me, a token is a dent in my teenage back pocket. I don’t ride subways nearly as much as I used to, but at one time, it was a daily trek from Queens to Manhattan on the 7, a transfer at Grand Central to Times Square and a walk above ground to my retail job.

My grandmother, who lived in Brooklyn, always called subways, “the train.” It was graffiti-filled back then, like you see in the movies, but I always felt safe. Why?

On Sunday, I got to hear many of the talented (and far more famous than I am) contributors read from Token Entry: Poems of the New York City Subway. The poems tell the story of New York, the story of who we are. For a taste of what this is about click to this interview with the editor, Gerry LaFemina.

I am thrilled to be a part of this anthology. Thanks, again, Gerry for including my poem & Lee Kostrinsky too, publisher of Smalls Press.

However you get around these days: car, bicycle, boat, train, plane or underground – safe travels.

Writing Prompt # 35:

• Imagine that it’s 1977 (or 67 or 87, pick a year, any year) and you are a kid riding the NYC subway from Brooklyn to Radio City Music Hall. You are going to see the Rockettes. All is fine until ________________________ and then _____________________________.You wish you were old enough because then you would have __________________________________________________.
• Do a little research on NYC subways. What gems of information stick out or call to you? Re-write the story with three new pieces of false information.
• What’s the strangest thing you ever saw on the subway? What’s your subway poem? What are your underground transportation associations? Go and write.

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  WHEN YOU FINISH WRITING
• Hit that REPLY button to post your writing! Share your words of wisdom and wit by posting a comment. Tell us your subway story or poem.
• Read the anthology! http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/token-entry-gerry-lafemina/1109245760?ean=9780980191691
• Find some straphangers on Facebook when you click “like”: http://www.facebook.com/StefanieLipsey.Writer.
• Check out my website: www.stefanielipsey.com and blog: writingyoga.com to see upcoming events and workshop info.

Thank you very much for visiting each week! I consider each click an honor.