Do Not Ever Go Under a Stopped Train

Couched in my suburban home, through my sleepless fog. I hear the rattle of the 3 AM train Half a mile away Across the freeway road. DO NOT EVER GO UNDER A STOPPED TRAIN Rings from my childhood Standing one set of tracks away, The slowly moving train drags to a stop. I wait. DO NOT EVER GO UNDER A STOPPED TRAIN Thirty seconds would do it. I could slip between the cars. Don Roy does it. I’ve seen him. DO NOT EVER GO UNDER A STOPPED TRAIN Don Roy is a boy and older. He is bigger, faster, and stronger. I wait. DO NOT EVER GO UNDER A STOPPED TRAIN The 3 AM quiet returns. The far away train passes. I wait. DO NOT EVER GO UNDER A STOPPED TRAIN