Trains of Thought.

as another train passes outside

its rumbling vibrates the floor

pouring its energy

into my feet

into my spine

 

whispers

the city breathes

 

as another train passes outside

pouring the sorrowful

onto the streets

rumbles

pouring its energy

into my feet

into my spine

 

and in the city’s breathless silence

the craw of a crow

the ugly morning shriek of cockatoos

soaring

from the tall gums that line the tracks

mast and sails (the shops are ships)

as another train passes outside

 

whispers

into my feet

into my spine

 

as another train passes outside

echoes long down the cutting

carries ghosts of memory

flitting past

past

past

 

as another train passes outside

and thoughts are scattered

like wildflower seeds

and another train passes

diffused

like the broken ripple of water

after a ship has passed through

glinting in the sunlight

 

as another train passes outside

and light rain-drops titter at the windows

chuckling at the tipsy-pink rose glass

 

and the rain falls more steadily now

drenching

grows louder

not patter but pour

and a train passes

muffled

whispers

the city weeps

sweeps the dirt from its gutters

runs rivers

ripples down the rose-glass window panes

and a train passes

rumbles

and groans

the city grumbles

and shrieks the ugly shriek of morning cockatoos

and another train passes

whispers

the city breathes

 

once lulled

now lush

the rain sweeps across the rooftops

runs rivers

down the drain-pipes

tips tips tips

drips

down the chimney-pots

where there’s no wood-smoke

on a wednesday