April Poetry: The Right of Way

In recognition of Poetry Month, and to celebrate our treasure trove of Orcas Island poets, Orcas Issues is pleased and honored to offer daily poetry during April.

THE RIGHT OF WAY
— by James McKeon —

A George Inness painting, Sunset at Montclaire
Could be anywhere back east, but reminds me always
Of that section of the Jersey right of way
Along the Erie Lackawanna tracks northwest of Hoboken,
Because every day, coming tired from work,
I took the Port Jervis line north along that right of way.

Why does it so remind me? Because it took me home heartsore,
And each day I stared out the window toward sunset and gathering dusk,
Wondering sometimes about the many who lived along that right of way,
Who lived demanding lives unhonored and near to breaking: wondered,
Wondered were they too moving into darkness,
Had they also lost the right of way, forgot the hard way home?
Wondered if any gazed into the gathering dusk serenely,
Unafraid, though seeing what was in store down the way?

Coming home, late one summer afternoon,
Somewhere north of Passaic, these souls
Beset by trouble were forever imprinted on my memory
As I felt the train decelerate, big air-brakes grabbing
And then heard the engine man signal ahead.

The tracks were taking a slow curve
So that I was able to see, for an instant, out a window,
Quite a way forward down the tracks.
Where a young man had just then walked out
Onto the right of way from a road entering on our right
Just a few hundred yards down, and my heart
Jumped in my chest as

He proceeded to sit and then lie down athwart
Our tracks as they became hidden by the turning of our train
As the right of way straightened out ahead. And then

We were beyond the road from which he had emerged,
The sound of brakes and signal still loud and clear
In my mind to this very day.