Lovepats

(urinary track)

to the train

all aboard

get on board

get on board

for the ride

to remember

you’ll remember

this train

***

he swore to the conductor

we ten were under twelve

discount for having so many, so close

let dad do the talking

clackity clack

don’t talk back

smile, be polite

say thank you

yes sir

before long

we owned that train

bar car

dining car

sleeping car

more

running down the aisle

playing hide and seek

making lovers squirm

in their dirty looks

wishing they were on any. other. train.

‘til one of us stopped

to catch a breath of fresh air
at the joint between cars

then we all did

right there

and that’s where we stayed

for the rest of the trip

refreshed

stuck our heads outside

leaning out over the gate

as far as we could reach

reaching, stretching
without falling

'No falling!'
(as though another new rule would deem it so)

wind blowing our hair

blue sky

sunshine on our faces

and the rain

the rain

the cool, wet rain

sprinkling our faces

in sunshine

refreshment

by the end

mother wondered why our hair was wet

shirts damp

the look of  horror on her face

was beyond understanding

as we begged

for her to join our joy
in our tale to tell
of being rained on in sunshine

looking for rainbows

'that was no rain'

she exclaimed

jaw clenched

low hushed

matter of fact

disgusted still

madly digging for a hanky

‘the......toilet.......flushes.......onto........the........track.’

***

train engines hissin’

train track pissin’

clackity clack

urinary track

rhythm of the rail

hear momma wail

clackity clack

urinary track

clackity clack

urinary track

don’t hold back

go baby... go...

baby...

go...

     just....

               go.

Patricia Spreng

Yes, this really happened.  In 1968, my parents took all 10 of us kids on a train ride to Taqhaumenon Falls in the upper peninsula of Michigan. We were having such fun, until we saw our mom's face.  My dad wanted to throw us all into the Falls.  Apparently, we all survived.  We still laugh about it. The minute Claudia mentioned "trains,"  this was the first and only story that came to mind.  =)   Submitted to d’Verse Poetics tonight where Claudia is asking for stories about trains.  Click here on d’Verse Poetics to read more train stories by the wonderful world of poets

Also skipping over to double dutch with Deidra and sharing laughter at Jumping Tandem, one of the marvelous places I've found through
The High Calling.  (I'm getting loopy from linking.)