My engine stalled,
delayed at the infernal crossing,
waiting on a train
that never left the station.
The conductor never punched a ticket
or a clock,
nor did he cry out "Alllll aboard!"
in a raucous, weary voice.
I was left
sitting there,
alone & aggrieved,
drenched by the night ~
horns blaring behind me,
the lack of flashing lights & barrier arms
causing unlimited dilemmas
in their non~existent wake.
Perhaps I should have left the bag unpacked,
the toiletries stored in the cabinet.
Perhaps I shouldn't have razored my legs so hard
with yearning.
Maybe I shouldn't have risen that morning,
anticipating rocking cars
& darkness blazing with fiery~eyed splendor.
How could I have known,
unless I'd left the house
to find the roadblock ahead?
I sighed & gripped the wheel,
my curses far outweighing those
from behind me.
I got out
& started pushing,
sullen & worn.
~ July 4, 2006
12:50 a.m.
Author notes
Option 3:
Choose any of the following songs as a title and run with it... 
"Did I shave my legs for this?" by Deena Carter
Picture credit: "Night Ride" by Howard Pincus and Robert Hart, Jr. (1985)
www.lyricstime.com/rickie-lee-jones-night-train-lyrics.html
"Night Train"
by Rickie Lee Jones
"Here I’m going
Walkin’ with my baby in my arms
’cuz I am in the wrong end of the eight ball black
And the devil, see, he’s right behind us
And this worker said she’s gonna take my little baby
My little angel back
But they won’t getcha,
’cuz I’m right here witcha
On the night train
Swing low, saint cadillac
Tearin’ down the alley
And I’m reachin’ so high for ya
Don’t let ’em take me back
Broken like valiums and chumps in the rain
That cry and quiver
When a blue horizon is sleeping in the station
With a ticket for a train
Surely mine will deliver me there
Here she comes ...
I’m safe here with you
On the night train
Oh mamma, mamma,
Concrete is wheeling by
Down at the end of a lullaby
On the night train"
"Company"
by Rickie Lee Jones
"I’ll remember you too clearly
But I’ll survive another day
Conversations to share
When there’s no one there
I’ll imagine what you’d say
I’ll see you in another life now, baby
I’ll free you in my dreams
But when I reach across the galaxy
I will miss your company
Company
I’ll be looking for company
Look and listen
Through the years
Someday you may hear me
Still crying for company
So now you’re going off to live your life
You say we’ll meet each other now and then
But we’ll never be the same
And I know I’ll never have this chance again
No, not like you
So, I’ll see you in another life now baby,
I’ll free you in my dreams
But when I reach across the galaxy
I will miss your company
Company
I’ll be looking for company
Look and listen
Through the years
Someday you may hear me
Still crying for company"
"A Lucky Guy"
by Rickie Lee Jones
"Oh, he’s a lucky guy
Oh, he’s a lucky guy
He doesn’t worry about me
When I’m gone
He goes to sleep at night
He don’t turn off the light
And wonder how to find me
Or if I’m alone
Oh, he’s a lucky guy
I wish I was like him
Cuz when he talks about me
He don’t look this way
He’s a lucky guy
He used to walk with me
He used to talk to me
See, we have these secrets
That no one else could hear
Well, he’s not the only one
No, no not the only one
But what happens to them?
Do they matter?
Do they disappear
Into a lonely girl?
Now I’m a lonely girl
Cuz I want somebody with me in the world
Oh, he’s a lucky guy
Fontune walks right in the door
And here I am
Just like before
Well, I’m not gonna turn around
I’m not his pretty clown
I’m not the one caught
Like he thought
He was the last one I had there
Cuz I did a foolish thing
A real, real stupid thing
I told him I love him
And I want him there
When I knew he wouldn’t come
And I knew he didn’t care
And I’ll cry awhile
I’ll cry awhile
But when I wake up
Tomorrow is a new day
I’m a lucky guy
Hey, I’m a lucky guy
Real, real lucky guy
Hey, I’m a lucky guy"
Written July 4th, 2006
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Comments
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1 - 35 of 35
Adding your comment:
Thank you...It's not my usual style...
Be well, Poet...
Wanda
Thanks, Poet. What a hoot this one was. 
I'm glad you liked it, Rick...Yeahhh..."reality"...
Wanda
12 old applause
