Emma Lahana

Train

Emma Lahana


Steep is the water tower 
painted off blue to match the sky 

can't ignore the train 

night walks in the valley silent 
you could swear the earth just moved 

can't ignore the train 

dust to be kicked up 
in the crack faced 
idle sinister town 
screen door to the rail station 
devil in her shoe 

ran along side the wasted tracks 
hem pins darted her calves 

can't ignore the train 

one spoiled girl with the tidiest apology 
some how wedged inside her throat 

can't ignore the train 

patience their virtue 
but I never could abide by that 
dungeon life with electric light 
a clean towel and a basin 
mantle figures mind their place 
laughs where they belong 

through adventure we are not adventuresome 

rage to share with a wardrobe mirror 
in a room so beige and cold 

can't ignore the train 

window days saw the children pick their 
street games on thirty afternoons 

Molly the boys are 
starting in the rhymic again 
teasing more and more.... 

the second daughter 
how she fell 
young locked in Some Folk's Prison 
made to dwell 
til they're braiding 
her grey hair 

sitting in the wishing chair 
sitting in the wishing chair 
sitting in the wishing chair