Anyway, during one of my day's errands, I found myself looking at construction work taking place on our local railroad tracks and remembered that - over the years - I have scribbled (I won't say "written" because that sounds final and everything I've put on paper is always subject to change) a number of poems with a railroad theme. So, here's one I wrote in honor of a friend - a very sweet and generous man who had a way of making every party more fun - who was dying of AIDS. This was back in the days when there really was no treatment. His name was Joey, and it pains me still that he is gone. Once again...this is for you, Joey!
Louie Boy
Once I saw a train pass by
With the words Louie Boy
Splashed in yellow upon
Its red side
Yellow and red are my
Colors for you
Yellow for sunshine
Red for the passion of a
Courage smoldering deep
Trains and dreams glide on
Tracks connected to obscure
Stations
One of life’s fragments
Set before us
For a nicer view
We observe then forget
For waking dreams are still
Just dreams
With no beginnings
And so no ends
Where is the notice for
Small moments...
Unless it’s splashed
With colors screaming
Here is a tribute to a friend
Be he fragment or a boxcar on
Clattering wheels
Gliding the connections
Between somewhere and elsewhere
He’ll be remembered for the yellow
Of the sun that lights
The red of embers
Glowing for Louie
Louie Boy
