Train Tracks

Wooden planks

under iron rails

sing a

Thomas the Tank Engine

whistle-song:

Woooooooooo!

I turn to my father,

and say:

"I want to be a train,"

he says,

"You want to be a train conductor."

So let's just back it up a second,

reverse the motion of this beast

.

Go and find the rusted river crossing,

the tinder-shelled bear trap of a bridge

with a browning underbelly

We cross with conviction

then splinter at the sight

of a hand-less man

unzipping his pants

with a hook.

Scrape the lint off your ticket,

implore these vinyl seats for clues.

How many drunken evenings

and afternoons with grandma

did you find?

As it turns out,

you're going somewhere

embedded in the ink of your dollar.