toxic and dangerously dangerous rubber gloves required
we spent the evening sorta together not necessarily out of fondness for each other
but to prevent us from being alone separately
closing down bars always answering the last call
phone never off the hook
catching the 11:10 next morning out of town
thought she might be there to see me off
shoulda known better
she didn’t seem much at goodbyes
threw my trenchcoat on the seat stake my claim
even though car half empty
better times ahead
eastern to central standard
next city will be stunningly different I tell myself
read some magazines to pass the time
look out the window, into poor people’s backyards
remnants of the rust belt
crossings ding! ding! ding! ding! ding!
sound trailing off as we rock by...
stare at the blue and gray upholstery of the seat across from me
drifting off into sleep
well-worn black backpack wrapped around my leg for safekeeping
at the station echo chamber voice sounds familiar yet strange
walk into downtown to find a room, find a bar
appearance is different but it’s the same
as the last one and the last one and the one before that
it’s all the same
you can’t outrun it
