A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall

on a train heading east
car sways and steadies
sneaker feet planted along the metal floor seam
hot dust dot glass and overpass crosses stream
the west is a sleeping dream

tangerine queen fills her pockets
with sweet song lyrics and pocket novels
the car is empty
but she is standing
sometimes she just needs to sway
a buoy on the current of the sea bay
starfish on the far beaten rocks
the train passes between them
the sea and the city land
the sky and the spring earth

sandwiches from the turnstile and happy smiles
from the conductor
“Watch your step,”
he places a hand out in front
and she wishes he was
always there to keep her from
tripping

she rides along the road to the sun
to a city unlike her own
but it is the same
at least the omelets are
hot and yellow butter and orange juice
good food is what she makes sacred, yes
and gentle order and clean
white tennis shoes
a new book from the discount store

“A hard rain’s gonna fall,”
after all
so she'd better prepare
stands next to Bob on the street corner
to look over the blinking lights
“Happy Friday,”
a stranger says
he’s a salesperson
“You too…”
       thank you.”
“Are you in the market for a new car ma’am?”
there’s a shining sky automobile parked in the lot
“Yes.”
she nods, “Yes I am.”
they both smile

Bob waits on the corner smoking till she’s finished
then they drive home together
along the train tracks
they make spaghetti and
they make love
she sleeps peacefully on the couch
until dusk touches down
and rain kisses
the roof