A Journey by Train

At East Falls Church I look out the window,

     And notice the way the trees are blushing,

     Fall’s always like this, and I’m always rushing;

The train gives a lurch at East Falls Church.

At Dunn Loring I’m still thinking of you,

     And dreaming of times when we were together;

     I’m framed by your loss, this train, and black weather;

And something is roaring at Dunn Loring.

At Foggy Bottom old folks on the train;

     Against a gray sky, gray geese are flying;

     Whenever we’re living, we’re also dying.

My mood is all autumn, at Foggy Bottom.

Stuck between stations, the tunnel is dark as the womb.

     Breathing in silence, so close to each other,

     I miss you more now than this time last year, lover;

Such is my ration stuck between stations.

At Capitol South I heard the truth:

    The old waitress said “You should be more forgiving;

    Whenever we’re dying, we’re still also living.’

At Capitol South she made me dry in the mouth.

At West Falls Church I pick up my journal,

     And jot down some notes on a poem I’m writing,

     The houses are tasteful, with pastel siding,

And geese on the verge at West Falls Church.

At Vienna Square, my mood becomes lighter.

     An hour ago, I would not be believing,

     That one hour later I wouldn’t be grieving

That no one is there at Virginia Square.

© Larry Haworth (2/20/2014)