railyard

stoned in separation anxiety 
    my spirit hovers, then snaps 
back to me on the thread of 
  your wrecking ball voice. 

don't disturb the moment, man 

just wanna watch the trains roll in, 
     read dim graffiti scrawled 
on rusted boxcars 
       wonder where the hell 
the artists are and just how far 
  these iron horses have run. 

somewhere past the sun,
  impaled now on cascade peaks,
lovers speak of future plans
    bedsprings squeak
beneath rushed demands,
babies cry, someone sighs
  another lies in a terminal
     hospital ward,
   awaiting a flatline grimace.

while trains still churn on
  through predator nights
across intercontinental ties.
chasing day beyond the heartland.

i'll take twilight while i can.

cause there ain't nothin' else goin' on here
   nothin' to anticipate
     but nothin' to fear.

so don't disturb the moment, man

my mortality is precious
   while my moment is here.

-- j sheridan fenn ca. 1997