Suddenly a bearded father leans
toward his neighborand moves
his mouth soundlessly
They all begin to stir and shiftsome angry
some scuffing shoes on the ground

Now she sits in her light-blue evening gown
She holds the raw weeping pulp
up against
the fire-red sky's
tatters of flames

Grandpa rode the union rails
for the Delaware and Hudson
Told us being a brakeman meant
someday he'd break
his goddamn neck