suitcases of a life heavy
in his hands shoes split and
heal-worn a nervous man
rides the afternoon rails
overcoat collared tightly
he checks the schedule
for the final stop today
the timing feels ominous
some stations warm and
welcoming others dark
and scary the last exit
throws a new shadow
a stranger crosses the platform
the whispers force his wide-eyed
reaction juicy clue? warning?
misdirected line in a puff of steam?
God splashes something from a
a favorite bottle into an iced tumbler
leans forward to catch a pillow of
clouds trapping a full moon squeezing
hope from the man’s eyes what now?
a prayer for wings? a locked door to open?
some falling star to catch and not look back?