Woman Disembarking Train, Newtonville

Grey-haired and slim, she must be sixty.
As she walks towards the stairs she
lets her hand run along
the weathered wood fence,
perhaps to hear it tsk-tsk-tsk
beneath her fingers, or maybe

just to get the sense of something
textured, from standing out in the sun
and the rain and the snow, after a day spent
shuffling paper and tapping plastic keys.

She smiles to herself as she passes, alone in the crowd.
There's a little girl in the old body yet.

Comments: 9

Betty S. Jun 12, 2012, 3:37pm UTC

very interesting.

Con Chapman Jun 12, 2012, 4:06pm UTC

Thanks.

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Debbie W. Jun 12, 2012, 3:48pm UTC

Like it a lot, Con. Great line: lets her hand run along the weathered wood fence, perhaps to hear it tsk-tsk-tsk beneath her fingers. Saw it and heard it!

Con Chapman Jun 12, 2012, 4:06pm UTC

Thanks. I realized after I posted that I subconsciously lifted a line from Mehitabel the Cat, "There's a dance in the old dame yet."

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Kingston Kaprinski Jun 13, 2012, 11:11pm UTC

A nice photographic poem. I like the texture of the sense of enigma in that we live in every present moment, but we also carry the remembered past into the present and will take it into the future. By merely disembarking from the train, you're moving toward that future, but not without the past. But what is really enjoyable is your spelling out the physical sensations of the felt moment. With great brevity you've said so much.

Con Chapman Jun 14, 2012, 8:21am UTC

Thank you very much.

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stephen berwaldt Jun 15, 2012, 9:15am UTC

I've always felt there is beauty all around us...one just has to look for it. Here, you've found beauty in a single poignant moment, proving to us all that every moment has meaning.

I love your description "tsk...tsk..tsk..." of her fingers strumming the wooden pickets of the fence. Perfect.

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Con Chapman Jun 15, 2012, 10:25am UTC

Thanks.

stephen berwaldt Jun 15, 2012, 10:31am UTC

You're welcome.

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Woman Disembarking Train, Newtonville

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Comments: 9

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