the love affair

they cross paths
two strangers
meeting for the first
time.
knowing nothing about one
another,
but that one has
the seat next to the other.
the train begins to move.
the passengers settle in.
they say hello and smile.
they fall madly in love
with one another
in the silence
of the quiet car.
only the wheels below
them rattle.
the steel rails singing
that train song.
in the hours that pass
they live their
lives together.
get married, raise children.
make love
under a glorious moon.
they grow old and sit
for hours in the park
holding hands watching
young lovers walk by,
remembering when they too
were young.
when they met on that train
so long ago
as strangers.
when the trains slows to a stop,
arriving
where it needs to arrive.
they rise and say goodbye.
this love affair
now over.