Monday, November 10, 2025

Engine Number 2


We stopped at the flashing red lights

On the way to the airport 

Dawn was just beginning to break 

Behind the silhouetted trees


To ease the tension

I said I don’t really mind trains

Because I love to watch the graffiti 

And listen to the sound


My driver perked

“Me too” he said

“The artwork can be 

really good!”


After that our conversation turned

to woo’s and ahh’s

when the red lights illuminated 

a particularly snazzy design


The caboose came and went

but the flashing lights stayed

as another set of freight

followed directly behind


“Well shoot” I said

“Guess we shouldn’t have 

enjoyed that last one so much.”

My train spotting companion laughed


We continued admiration

Comfortable in each other’s company

As if surrendering to engine number 2

was a choice


We were rewarded

with huge letters near the end

that said “Frac the Police”

Erupting us in grand finally laughter


Sometimes Joy happens 

in moments of waiting 

through intentional misspellings 

revealing the purpose of resistance