he lost six friends
over there for his country
and he hates pigs.

tracks dash side by side
through the soot
of the train tunnel
like deer through tall grass
on a night with no moon

they step on board all
orange and flashing yellow like
lightning bugs
and sit down together
but have nothing to say

the man much older than
the man on his paper bag

going with her family makes it
different
it's not the same
it's not feeling
like she did
before she says and asks
about blood
on the other girls ankle

she steps past empty
seats to the floor
holding her purse near
peering up at
speaking strangers like
how spiders see the sun

he gestures to the time
but holds his watch hand higher
than could be casual
and leans forward with his fingers
locked
up in interested symmetry