3190. HERE'S HOW WE MAKE THE TOAST

HERE'S HOW WE

MAKE THE TOAST
Here's how the mantelpiece rubbed arms
with the fire - oh, there was always something
amiss, yes, we all knew that. But no one ever
was speaking, and there were too many kings
and queens. I shaved my face, that morning,
with the license of freedom and desire. Yes,
it should be said, everything went smoothly.
-
But - a body asks - why? Why should
that be? How can that happen? And here,
as well, far beneath this railroad trestle,
this stupid Metro North right now along
the Hudson. Some distant rock hills,
those Jersey Palisades, stood
stern across the shore.
-
I wouldn't have known from nothing,
this Hudson River Line, taking me
right up to Beacon. And back down
again. What's that all about? I can't
say...now that all the Indian-natives
are gone, those campfire-blessed
locals who once dwelt along this
route, marching and huffing their
way across these icy, wintry paths.
Prosit. Long Life. Good Health!