Ever Jumped a Train - Part 3 - Robert and Ernie Adventures
One morning Ernie and I awoke to a noisy train yard,
It was that place many hitchers feared known as Chicago.
Since Ernie had traveled there before he warned me,
In that little voice he said don't open the door.
Praise our Creator my English lessons had actually taken,
He had spoken to me and I mean in no uncertain words.
I'd heard of animals whispering to humans in the past,
Yet this little hobo mouse had talked loud and clear.
We sat that day huddled together behind his wood crate,
Then in the afternoon someone shoved open that steel door.
He climbed inside and began tapping hard on the wood crates,
Feeling like forever he climbed back out and shut the door.
I whispered to Ernie and asked who was that invader?
He told me it was a dangerous bull not to confront.
Confused I asked him what he meant by that comment,
He said it was a mean human called a train policeman.
That day I almost learned a lesson in home invasion,
Ernie said he would have killed us both if he'd spotted us.
I said not even an animal would be so ruthless as that,
Ernie said animals only attack when cornered or starving.
The next morning our almost coffin pulled from that yard,
Our temporary home on wheels now had became our savior.
Such is the irony of what it is to be a mortal creature,
Both of us embracing in celebration of our lives saved.
We traveled the rest of that day never closer than before,
Each and every mile of our U.S.A. journey appreciated.
So very grateful for this wonderful land given to us,
Given by so many who gave their lives so we may live free.
I'll never forget the day we rolled into Washington D.C.,
Ernie said it was so poignant it was my first time there.
How ironic that a mere mouse had been there before me,
I told him that a monument should be built there for him.
He blinked up at me with that stare that always captured me,
Robert my human friend why would you say such a thing?
I said because you are that smallest giant friend,
One that has helped me so truly to love my country.
In the beginning I had tried to teach you to understand,
And now Ernie you have opened my mind to my being's center.
If only most humans could be touched by your friendship,
Maybe enough might bow to the reality of changing our world.
(to be continued)
Copyright © 2014 Robert William Gruhn A.R.R.
Copyright © Robert Gruhn | Year Posted 2014
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