Poetry Archives

This was the old woman who ate canned dog food
This the red wagon she pulled through the alleys
This the pack of stray dogs that went with her

Here are the boys who shouted and threw things
Here are the barrels of trash they all searched through
Here are the boys’ dogs barking at the old woman’s dogs

There is the bar where she went each night to sit
There is the sparkling schlitz sign over the mirror
There is the jukebox that only works if you kick it

These are the sleeves she touched each night when she left
These are the dogs coming out of the shadows to join her
These are the ties of the railroad tracks home

Yes
These are the ties of the railroad tracks home.