Leaving Town

A man sits on a bench as he waits to board the nine-fifteen train.
It’s the first time in years since he last got out of town.
One might wonder why—why leave everything behind?
And it wouldn’t be hard to answer.
Ordinariness can sometimes make
a man’s soul dull—
as this small town could,
or already has.

One-way ticket in hand,
shoes wearing thin,
and a heartburn.

Freedom is cheap when you’ve got nothing left to lose.

At his feet, a small travel bag:

Five shirts.
A hand-me-down suit.
Three pairs of socks.
Eight pairs of underwear.

Just enough for the road.
What he managed to pack.

When the man arrived in the city,
his first stop was a warm, decent meal—
preferably cheap, something the locals would often have.

It’s the fastest way to get acquainted with a place.

As for love,
he visits a brothel.

Pays good money.
Pays more for a goodnight’s kiss.

Some nights, it gets him a sleepover.
Warmer bed.

 

Big City

The city is a big place.

In the city, it’s easy to disappear into the night.

I do it all the time.
In fact, I go by many names now—
entropy, deceit, temper.
Mania.

“I’m not gonna be able
to sleep tonight, am I?”

“For as long as you have me,
no, I don’t think so.”

“And why is that?
Is there a way to shut you off?”

“I wish it were that easy.
You’ll have to find a way around me—
thoughts are bothersome sometimes.”

“Sure is.”

 

Public Transport

A great many blur
stood next to me
while waiting for
the public transport—

I looked around.
Peered over.

There were quiet
sighs of discomfort
and consistent patting
with handheld handkerchiefs—

The absent look
of weary commuters
crowded the conundrum
masked by silence,
running late for home-cooked meals
and late-night maladies—
necromancy;
pornography.

A woman, nursing a faux leather
handbag, offered a seat
to an elderly man.

And I thought:
It must be awfully nice to get married someday.

To stay up later than usual
with a stay-at-home wife,
to stay away from the noise,
from all of these—

from the great blur;
the great wave;
the constant pull of gravity.