Quiet Desperation

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While walking down the aisle

of the Long Island Railroad Train

going to the Big Apple for the day,

sitting there straight-backed,

upright in his grey flannel suit

and close corporate haircut,

looking so business-like,

an old happy-go-lucky kid

I used to run and laugh with

years back in high school.

I could tell he wanted to talk

so I just sat back and listened…

He’s got his boy and a girl,

who drive him crazy spending

his whole life trying to fulfill

all of their wishes and wants,

his wife even worse…

Work keeps him busy, but

brings him no pleasure;

the best time of his day

are the two hours he rides alone

on this train, twice a day

he gets away from it all.

His spirit of boyish tomfoolery

gone, long gone, as I listened

he never looked me in my eyes,

but I could see the blank stare

starring at the seat in front of him;

there was no light to be seen

in those bright blue eyes

that the girls always loved

years back in high school,

now just a smoldering fire that at

any moment could explode,

even worse, extinguish itself;

a heart attack hoping to happen.

When we pulled into Penn Station,

we shook hands goodbye.

I watched him grow smaller

and smaller as we went our

separate ways at the end of the line.