Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Framed and Finished

 


 

Profoundly stippled by rain,

the view from the rail coach window

corrugates against my face.

 

In the foreground, a red tractor,

a man in yellow shirt and blue cap

maneuvering before a structure

 

composed of simple geometries—

single story, range of tall windows.

Beyond and overlooking the scene,

 

a power pole is a crucifixion

with a bulky corpse slung on it

that’s probably a transformer.

 

A day so simply presented

but crudely textured by weather

offers little compensation

 

before the train lurches forward,

slicking on wet rails toward New York

where skyscrapers bristle with anger

 

and the greatest sums of money

change hands without a whimper.

I have errands in the city;

 

but rather than visit the stock exchange

with its ravishing visions of wealth,

I would like to steer that red tractor

 

beyond the frame of this window.

As the rain continues painting

with its blunt acidic brush strokes,

 

I would step indoors and wring myself

dry in a heated warehouse full

of unknown materials plotting.

 

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