Walking a True Line

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by Andrew Hudgins


Red lights whirling behind her in the sun,
a cop ordered me off the trestle. Why?
I asked, squinting. I knew what she'd say.
I loved this shortcut to my bad job, loved walking
above the street and then above the river,
mincing across the slick, splintering ties
—a true line against a hard blue sky—
teasing a fear of heights with a love of rivers.
The trains don't use it anymore, I called
down to the voice that yelled what authority
must yell: "Get down anyway!" What
a surety the State was—Mom, with a holstered
nine millimeter.
That evening, as I trudged,
obeisant, below the trestle, giving Mom
time to forget, the creosoted posts,
oozing tar, shuddered like oracles.
Above, unseen, a lugubrious chugging mass,
passed over, painstakingly almost half-aware,
as gods proceed when they think they love us,
we who are in this world to be swept away.

please note: photo by Donncha O Caoimh

Comments

  1. RudeeFebruary 20, 2009 at 10:33 AM

    I never read a work through until I know all of the words. Webster's got a workout today!

    ReplyDelete
  2. aimsFebruary 20, 2009 at 10:59 AM

    Obeisant - a great word. Trudging with head down wanting to be bad.......

    btw - who were those guys on Life on Mars? What's in that case? You watch - they'll not bring it back - like Eli Stone.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFebruary 20, 2009 at 3:11 PM

    I know. Aren't these words something?? I love "lugubrious." I like the way it rolls off the tongue and the way is sounds like what it is and can hear Eeyore droning on about it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. modyMarch 1, 2009 at 7:47 PM

    I never read a work through until I know all of the words. Webster's got a workout today!

    ReplyDelete

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