Train Ride, 11 PM
Originally Posted On Site: 2008-02-08 11:45:13
Last Login: 04.29.08
Visits as of 12-12-07: 113
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Night drank slowly from a cracked china cup.
The stars caught each fallen drop in their hands,
Turning them into spoonfuls of make believe,
Then blew them, like kisses, to the moon.
No one seemed to pay attention, yet
Grown women blushed like school girls
While the men smiled for no reason as
Tiny ounces of invisible moon dust
Fell like snow from the chilly April sky.
The priest who looked like Ethan Hawke
Stood scribbling notes in a book
Of psalms and proverbs,
Stopping occasionally to look up and smile
Then glance out into the night at the
Colors and noise swirling past
Like it was a stranger or mystery.
He looked at peace rocking back and forth
To the rhythm of the train.
A woman sat reading, "The House of Mirth",
With a finger to her lips
As if lost in the antiquated words and
Long fussy dresses.
When we stopped at the downtown station,
She hurriedly tucked away the book
Remembering she was where she needed to be.
From the next car, the sounds of teenagers
Laughing could be heard over the constant clack
Of the steel wheels. People turned to see
What was so funny but then realized
It was only a state of mind and an inability
To be discerning that caused the laughter.
A man who smelled of over ripe bananas
Strode past talking about how
The world cannot end too soon for him.
Perhaps he hadn't noticed the moon
Or hadn't felt it falling all around him.
A woman, looking tired and bored,
Asked to see everyone's ticket.
She disappeared down the aisle
But could still be heard in the distance
Calling out her monotone request.
A huge green billboard which only said, "JESUS",
Lit up the darkness momentarily.
Then faded into the night as
Had everything else.
"Next station stop, 5th and Missouri",
Announced a voice over the loud speaker.
As we came to a stop,
I stepped from the train and
Drew the night around me
Like a coat.
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