A Train Ticket for One

By Tif Yen Bui

There, Francis, is a leaf on the side

Of the road, dew is caught between the slits

And the spaces between the plants’ cells.

Francis, those soft squished square atoms

Are melting, creating a pool of liquid, reflected against

Sunlit blades of grass on the plains.

Francis can you see the dents?

Bend in close Francis and you will see it better.

Yes that one Francis,

That leaf came from our house on the street,

The house with the red window pane and

The boxed windows with that yellow tint.

The leaf caught the tail wind from our bike,

Francis. I told you to pedal slower.

We wouldn’t be here if you pedaled slower.

Did you bring the towered Tiffin box?

We can eat after we get there, Francis.

Now go over there, Francis, through the dead leaves where the cars

Once passed through, tattooing their tire tracks

Into the soil where the worms are pushing themselves up and down.

Be careful, don’t go too fast, you will

Break your leg, folding one bone on the other.

Take a step back Francis, and look at the blues.

Yes that blue—the sky.

It is dripping Francis, can you feel the air beneath your feet rising?

Take off your shoes now Francis,

Sink your feet down into the ground,

Allowing dirt to rush in between your toes.

I’ll help you Francis, sit down now, one lace

Under the other to loosen it, yes that way.

Now pull it off Francis.

Can you tell me what time it is?

5:20, okay, good.

Now hand me the watch and your necklace too.

You don’t want to lose them

When we are running.

Take off your other shoe, Francis.

Fast now, there is little time.

Can you hear the train coming?

It is coming close now.

Hurry now Francis and leave it

There next to my bike that drove us.

Can you feel the air now Francis?

The air is rising, following the cloud, and turning

A light gray then restlessly falling backward on the earth.

Can you smell and feel it, Francis?

It is the blades of grass that your feet are feeling up against.

Now bend in close Francis,

Take your spine and lower it towards the ground,

Yet a bit more,

too far Francis, your hips are too high.

Just sit down Francis

And bend your head so that

Your crooked nose can smell the fresh broken thorns

Pecking their way out of the stem.

Do you like the smell?

Why not?

Wait, be quiet so you can hear the train

Coming close now.

Get up now Francis, quickly.

Look over there Francis can you see the smoke?

Take a picture now, your blue hands running

Against the silver button,

Now push the button.

Did it take the picture?

Can you see the sun’s yellow paint against the

Grainy sky, the bricks of the mountains as the train catches the sun’s heat?

Now run and wait for

Me at the railroad tracks.

No, I can’t go with you Francis.

I need to get water so we can have something

To drink while we are drowning our throats

in the food I made earlier.

Yes Francis I made your three-layered sandwich.

Hurry up now Francis and make sure to get there

Before the smoke does

And take a picture Francis, make sure to

Smile and I’ll be there watching you play

Taking your hands, bending them to capture the smoke.

Now go Francis.

Yes Francis I love you too.

Go now Francis.

Go, I’ll be there after I get the water.

© Tif Yen Bui