Runaway Train

Runaway Train

I will tell you that sometimes

I'm the one who pulls the trigger

observing the destination

like a runaway train that I cannot save

Watching from a distance

I hear

"maybe this time"

"maybe this time"

chugging in my ears

Your mouth opens wide

but I do nothing

There is gravel embedded in your tiny knees

"crying and begging will get you nowhere"

I say

making funny faces until you finally giggle

We are nowhere

together

I learned the hard way

that pickle juice isn't for babies

but we were out of milk

and you were crying so hard

Forever can last months and months

until suddenly

you are in a different place

and the rumbling of the train in your sleep

jolts you

awake

Angela Minard 2015©