Jeff Finlin

The Long Lonesome Death of the Traveling Man

Jeff Finlin


It flew in as fear  
it flew in as rain 
disguised as a dream  
in a suit grey and plain 
at the end of a rainbow 
in all he could hold 
in the taste of her tears 
as they salted the road 
in the sounds in the stations  
built from iron so grand 
the long lonesome death of the traveling man 

was it you on my arm  
like a tattoo carved in 
your strawberry curls 
against my black leather grin 
in a love going nowhere  
but right here and now 
on a carousel horse 
with this life as your shroud 
you kissed me one time  
passed me the moment at hand 
and the long lonesome death of the traveling man 

here I am standing right in the middle  
with my head in the west 
and my mind somewhere east of belief 
here I ride 
at the speed of the sound of the lonely 
holding you  
looking back holding me 
holding me 

now the boats they all lay 
on the muddy bay floor 
and wait for the tide 
to take them from shore 
as the moon and its pull 
brings them to stand  
I feel the weight of my duty  
slip from my hand 
feel myself going nowhere 
as fast as I can 
feel the long lonesome death of the traveling man