my friend the moon is out early today
big and round and covered with yellow haze
always good to see you, let me buy the first one
very cool wind; almost fall-like
trees rustle; small leaves freshly fallen and crispily dry scatter across the street like crabs at a beach
their scratchy loud footsteps leaving no prints behind
bears out and foraging about as bears often do
—- bird whistling 2 slow whistles
then 6 quick ones — don’t know my birds
but it’s nice to listen to
now here’s a bird with purpose
as I speak, a freight train pulls out
of rainy St. Louis
grinding, squeaking out from the shadow of the arch
down rusty spaghetti-like tracks
then rolling through the sleepy farmlands of Illinois
it’s hands cupped for golden grain
led by sons of old engineers, now old themselves
looking to end today’s run and go home
where the wife will have supper on the table
