Passage 1.
I can’t open the door!
I pound on it
as the train pulls out of the station at Providence.
I have missed my stop.
On the pond an egret snaps
one fish with its dagger-like beak.
The ticket-taker
slides the door back with TWO hands
as if showing the maneuver
to a child.
He preens
before the assembled riders
writes me a Let Board pass
on the returning Acela.
It’ll be close.
I march up
forty-nine steps
cross the pass-over
and descend
with dagger-like pain
in my heart
As you go up
think of going down
as you go down
think of going up
I breathe slowly
the tightness subsides
the platform conductor
wades
buoyant and graceful
with neck outstretched
over the crowd
guiding me to the bar car
It’s not so crowded there. Better seating
I stand the whole way back
communing with the conductors
standing still
as towns and waters fly by.
An egret lunges
and gulps me down.
The pond passes through me.
