Amtrak

Work Ethic and I 
are at a crowded Penn Station
standing in front of the Big Board, 
waiting for our track to flash.
 
A few move up 
 - Boston, Trenton - 
but the crowd doesn’t move. 
They are all waiting 
for our train and it’s late. 
 
W.E. kills the time 
by pretending he’s an alien 
taking reconnaissance notes.
 
They are upright with pink epidermis, one head, and two legs. 
Left appendages pull fairly large black boxes on wheels 
and the right pushes small black boxes to what looks like an ear.
Only a very few have had these tails removed and almost all talk to themselves.
 
Finally - Washington: track 15 
and the bustle starts to the escalator. 
We rush a bit to stand and wait, 
but now we are focused, 
we all know where we’re going. 
 
I lose W.E. in the crowd 
and think about his scribble.
 
All seem motivated by some God-like force to flee at the same time,
but move poorly as a unit like a funnel full of roaches.
 
I’m not worried, 
he gets lost quite often 
but always resurfaces.
 
He’s fun to hang with 
and doesn’t drink much.
He travels light 
and takes good notes.