Riding the latebound night train
alone in my car but for a shade
slouched down in a far corner

Silence ‘cept murmurs in cadence
from rails and wheels discussing
bits of Sartre’s dangerous dreams

Each lonely stop welcomed in turn
by doors flung suddenly wide as if
to startle the trash on dark platforms

In this quick sharp hiss a deep sigh
the train speaks from boredom with
hustle and bustle and hurry to wait

Tension mounts thin rising echoes
of ticks for tock on the stopwatch
culling wisdom’s last second down

Abrupt angry doors click closed
hissing disdain at worlds outside
so uncaring of schedules and time

Lurch off in darkness again
for more swift rattletrap chatter
‘tween wheels and rails and ties

Squabbling on like hens peck choice
in shadows cast by tomorrow while
time measures Siddhartha’s resolve

Be spendthrift of minutes and miles
in pressing on toward faraway stops
for I am unready to step into night.

© 2006, 2014 Aaron Brown