One Way Or Round Trip, Missus?

1.
There’s a train pushing through the room.
There’s a train, but no one looks or flinches
when I lay down across the track.

(I could get used to this)


2.
The train just takes me on a scenic tour.
I pout the whole way.


3.
I’m nothing if not stubborn.
I smile slyly for the god of smoke.
Fluorescent halos,
He tells me to breathe in.
The sun settles in my stomach.

My skin glows.
My eyes hurt to open.

“Don’t touch her!” He bellows
and I try and call him Zeus.

I try and smile and ask
that someone touch me
and keep touching me
and never stop –
I force my eyes open.
Zeus is swimming in rivers
that streak my face, instead of the sky,
and I’m gagging into the offered trashcan.
The voice soothes me like it understands.


4.
There’s a train pushing through the room.
There’s a train, but no one looks and I flinch
when I lay down across the track.


5.
The train just takes me on a scenic tour.
I listen the whole way.