holes rubbed in the cold glass
showing rain ripping the surface
the slash of dripping tyres
high against the diesel’s throb
suddenly, another face, next to mine
struggling for balance, a wry smile
and the absolute contact
of breasts to breast
and everyone clutches for the rail
the shock of touching floods all over;
the gentle thought tickles the edges of brain
and wheedles to be remembered
the journey begins in half glances
cracks in the floor, stubbed cigarettes,
yellow crumpled tickets
and a pair of black shoes
the creased homecoming trousers of a nodding man,
the seatback, cool, chrome handled
and the curve of a long sandy bay
up a tensioned leg