Louie Boy

Today has been one of those days when I had a long list of things I wanted to accomplish and now, at sundown, almost none of them has. Yet, it has been a busy and productive day. Go figure!

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