Dying On the Steps of the Louvre

On the train, I’m on the train,

fence posts passing by.

Barbed wire

caused the cowboy to expire,

will I?

Fencing me in, trapping me,

chaining me

to a fixed point on the continuum of life

never will I get to be someone’s wife.

There’s a deck of cards,

what’s my fate?

An ace, a joker, a queen, a fake.

Running around in circles

Bluffing through time

Twisting

Twirling

Whirling

CLIMB!

God help me,

protect me,

just don’t...forget me

What’s my line,

what’s the time?

Where’s my sign?

I’m cable knit sweaters and combat boots

set me loose

What’s the use?

Why am I here?

The old ones who loved me,

the young ones who miss me,

nothing has a purpose,

no one lasts a year.

It’s for them we fight,

baby girls in baby dresses with baby tights

Praying for deliverance,

for us.

I can’t comprehend

Why anyone would send

someone so clearly not alright.

But aside from the pain,

glasses in the fog and rain,

all that’s left is New York,

goodnight.

On the train,

I’m on the train.

Sleeping on the bench.

Say a prayer for grandma’s hair

Catch me if you can.

Lend me some air, would you? There.

Not so bad, resisting the plan.

Though childhood’s dead,

I have an alligator’s head.

Strong and worthy until the end.

My enemy, your friend.

The friend you had leave me unable to mend.

We blend

on the steps of the Louvre.

Wishing my train ride never did end.

Please leave flowers on my grave.

The end.