FOR JESSIE

Chilling, wailful

Screaming

Railroad distress

Call—

Its fateful rhythm

The fused, muted sounds

Of the valley drifted

Up to the top of the hill.

Jessie

The icy, cold

Of the little hill streams,

Sparkling over sometimes

Sharp-edged,

Sometimes rounded rocks

Jessie

The unbelievably sweet laughter

Interrupted calls of the voices

From far across the river.

Jessie

Pure, warm, sunshine

Days—lying on the pebbly beach

Listening to the haunting call

Of the ghost-like, toy-like

Trains whistling mournfully

Of their endless pursuits

Jessie