Taking the Train

I was at the station
Walking by all the trains
Just something I do sometimes
When I get to wishing I could go somewhere
I look at everyone in line
And watch as passengers get settled in
Don’t look at me like I’m crazy
It’s just…
Something that I do
So one day
As I was walking
Walking and watching
This guy came up to me
Pointed at the trains
And asked me if I was getting on
I tried to explain how I was
Just wishing as I passed on through
And he replied,
“Yeah, I know
This isn’t the first time I’ve noticed you.”
He started to talk
And a new weight formed in my hand
Suddenly I had a ticket
A seat next to his
Did I really need a plan?
He took my hand and I followed him
Though where we were going I really didn’t know
As we sat down I ran my thumb over his
Looked at him and my stomach plunged
I realized that I knew very little
Of the man attached to the hand
But it was more than that:
I didn’t know what the stops were
If we had a destination in mind
Or, really, why I was even on board
All I really knew was this:
I didn’t want to let go of that hand
‘How to bring this up?’ I thought
‘How to ask what comes next?’
It seemed safest to ask about the train
“So, just how fast does this thing go?”
He heard everything I hadn’t said
(I’m liking this guy already)
And replied, “Just as slow as you want it to.”
But I still didn’t quite understand
How does slowing the train down
Help me to decide just
Where I want it to take me?
Lost in a puzzle of puzzlement
I went back to watching the other passengers
Hoping to steal an idea or two from them
And I began to wonder why we’d yet to actually leave
In answer, he stood up and asked me to follow him
We walked through countless cars
And saw the passengers
Who, come to think of it, were all in pairs
We passed them all into the conductor’s car
Where we found an empty chair.
I understood, finally
That this – all of it was up to me
Into my hand he pressed a key.
I look out the window as I drive
Still unsure of where to make my first turn
Or what’s the next stop
But enjoying the upcoming scenery
Everything ahead looks so peaceful and pretty
So I guess now I know just one more thing:
Confusion and fear are just parts of the game
And there’s no way I’m getting off this train.