BRIEF ENCOUNTER
( J. Wilson)
© Ochiltree 136 Publishing (1998)

She can see the sailboats on the Hudson clearly now,
the train leaves Croton Harmon in an hour
He says, ‘dress quickly, I’ll put the coffee on,
there’s no time to take a shower’
So what does she take back, what will he leave here
Can they not return, must they always remain clear –
of this place, without fear?

The hero and the heroine, returning from their journey,
it’s always quicker coming back than going
He will try to read the paper, she’ll just sing softly –
but they know they’re fooling no one
Something to remember, neither could forget
Defies explanation, logic and good sense –
this place, without fear

All those social graces, they were taught to put on faces
and those rules and regulations refused not their invitation
to the charming world around them in their final destination
this place

One last kiss for poetry, a hug for consolation,
she’ll be getting off within the hour
Silver screen memories, like that old flick Brief Encounter;
strangely, he feels just like Trevor Howard

She smiles from the platform and waves the train away
For a single moment there, he nearly jumped and stayed,
in that place, without fear

He can see the sailboats on Lake Ontario
Has it really been raining for an hour

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From the Album: DARK CORNERS