Between Stations

Brakes hiss, trees slip, chain link ribbons
vacuumed up, sun flickering
bottle-brush pines, scrub oaks
sky-washing maples,
one white
birch,
backyards—
bicycles,
swing-sets,
decks,
inflatable
pools;
sky
painting
pond,
marsh-grass
belly-dancing,
tunnel
shock
darkness
out,
spewing
smoke-stack,
red lights,
crossing gates,
idling traffic,
feathered Sumacs
fence slowing,
couplings thump,
asphalt parked cars,
squinting mirror light,
brakes squealing, steaming,
gasping, shuddering,
exhaling, heaving, pausing—
still.