The Train Keeps
The train keeps — windows silvered
sky scissors cut on black-out as back drop:
moon and caboose. Keep a light on.
Click a dee click [ ]
Click a dee click [ ].
Slot between cars. Giant mesa walls
Rails and silver dash as doors
the train keeps closed. [ ] Clickered
stainless clasp [ ]. Let’s do the diner.
Around bends we lose the caboose.
Buffalo on lamp [ ] shade like buzzards.
Keep track. Brackets in moon light
between mountain [ ] wall stones round
canyon echo, echo. [ ][ ]
Diner soup salt and pepper,
silver salver with French baguette.
Cigarette.
Snack car in two-four time. Sleepers too.
You choose. Take what keeps pace. I wander
off [ ] ponder caboose as lost sleep
a way to keep track of where I’ve been
and couldn’t: [ ] again.
First published in Orange Quarterly