A Few Flakes and I'm Fine
I'm standin' on the corner,
waitin' for my bus.
I'm standin' by the streetlight,
watchin' traffic pass me by.
My bus, late as usual, doesn't mean that much.
I'm standin' on the corner;
the same people stand to wait.
Snow's comin' down now.
I'm standin' by the streetlight.
Snow's comin' down now,
so light and cold and soft.
I'm standin' on the corner,
snow feels good sittin' on my hat--
a few flakes, just like me and my friends.
I'm standin' by the streetlight.
I'm feelin' just fine; got feathery snow on my hat--
a few flakes, just like me and my friends.
I'm standin' on the corner;
I'm standin' by the streetlight.
Welding
Under a yellow lamp,
he welded part of the car,
sticky, hot summer night,
crickets singing distinctively,
cold tea covered and waiting
for his lips to crave it,
his cigarette burning on a concrete block
he'd picked up somewhere.
Below his goggles, his concentrated
look mimicked a grin or smile.
Sweat covered his tanned skin;
then and revealing every muscle,
he handled the machine
as if his emotions drove it,
in that heavy summer night.
Rain threatened with far-off thunder,
and I wonder how we filtered
through time and took separate paths
into a seemingly far away winter
where no thaw would merge
those paths again,
an icy permanance
that no welding could mend.
On Our Way Up
You showed me the foothills
of the silver mountains
where gold glitters at the peaks.
You showed me their golden caps
as rain sparkled around you.
We walked along the trails
in the leaf-shaded red sun.
We climb a little farther each time;
on our way up, we can try
to reach the golden bough
of the glitter-leaf tree.
The Drunk and His Sidekick Clown
Inside the arena a three-ring circus played.
There were jugglers, lions, a woman doing flips on a trotting horse's back.
Around the arena the circus players paraded.
You, stepfather, left me sitting by myself, afraid.
I was a child; you were a drunk.
Inside the arena a three-ring circus played.
I watched the clowns ride around in a funny car. The lights faded.
I liked their polka dot suits and their honking horns.
Around the arena the circus players paraded.
I didn't laugh when the audience did, but I prayed
and dreamed I could run away with the clowns.
Inside the arena a three-ring circus played.
You were drunk when you came back, circus-sated.
"Ready to go, Tiger?" you asked. I said, "I wish I could be a clown."
Around the arena the circus players paraded.
But I was a clown already that day.
When we left the arena, daylight hurt my eyes.
Inside the arena a three-ring circus played.
Around the arena the circus players paraded.
Train Song
The somber train rolled down the tracks. Whistle
blowin', whistle blowin', cryin' the whole
night through. I'm waiting up for you, but you're
travelin' along the tracks, travelin'
to catch some train in silver rain, walkin'
tracks the whole night long. I heard you singing.
your silver song when you left. The somber
train halted, screeched; silver rain keeps comin'
through thousands and thousands of blue layers
of clouds, and still I'm waitin' up for you.
