waiting on sleep to arrive

she fell asleep on the train,

her head

resting on my shoulder.

i had the window seat,

and stared at the world

rolling by.

the trees and water,

the churches with weddings

in progress,

past the cemeteries,

the factories, the abandoned

houses, the litter

and all the beauty.

mile after mile.

the rust of it all.

the sheen of new.

there were children,

men and women

on porches.

standing at windows,

white haired,

and thin,

some waving as the train

passed by.

it was everything and

nothing.

this world outside.

at last i was tired enough,

i closed my eyes.