where was i -- it's coming back
cars move past in grey and black
railway station unswitched track
sixty years without a clack
make friends in afternoon
morning now but won't be soon
lungs blow out a pipe of steam
feet step down start to breathe
in a wind that can't be seen
frenchman wants to intervene

concierge five foot three
bus to pier it drives past me
take a left or right you'll see
bakery match company
walking down an avenue
baguette crust beneath my shoe
crosswalk little man is red
someone english has just said
thirteen high school children dead
tourist caps are on their heads

find the place with bed and sheets
reservation not until three
take the load off of my feet
read a map with lines for streets
winding thick the boulevard
spanish children in the yard
playing tag and pick up sticks
one will grow up and make bricks
one will grow up cut cow licks
one will die young cold and sick

pick the feet up to the road
no more hotel lobby moat
so much for this famous town
spend some hours walk around
spill the water on the walk
passing girls like to talk
do not let them see my hand
bandaged cut passing sedan
in the bus toward the lake
hear no words don't understand

walking down bright alleyway
bushes line this sun-filled day
olympic games were underway
cars parked here i heard them say
need some food i hate to eat
must take body off of feet
swiss girl at the sandwich stand
lipped in french a crimson band
communicate embarrassment
saw the way her body bent

eat my sandwich near her
watch the churchyard saints interred
americans sit on the curb
hips in love i won't disturb
walk back down the hill to take
time to think at the lake
should i take the train back home
bathers sunning in the foam
or go find a vacant room
shopkeeper brushes with his broom

[the end]
go to the back
past the tracks
open the door
just a crack
grey and black
unswitched track

at this house
girls stay in
aunt jane knocks
door opens
on the cot
on the porch
grey and black
unswitched track

neighbors tell
her daddy knows
socks on ledge
mended toes
apple tree
arbor leaves
grey and black
unswitched track

dew on grass
moonlit tub
rust on rake
worms and grubs
girlfriend in
the 4h club
grey and black
unswitched track

burn the barn
he won't care
take the cow
he won't care
take the daughter
he won't know
grey and black
unswitched track

barbed-wire fence
in my jeans
wants to know
what it means
i say it's not
what it seems
grey and black
unswitched track

where was i it's coming back
cars move past in grey and black
railway station unswitched track
sixty years without a clack