Colin Dodds<\/strong><\/p> \/\/\/ Late Train Colin Dodds In spring, when trees draw leaves from their sleeves the tunnels are crisp and cool New perfume in ancient nostrils like being nineteen when every friend is a genius every woman an unbearable beauty Summer rolls in and the train\u2019s breath is the inside of a prostitute\u2019s knee brace Winter\u2019s burning … <\/p>\n
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In spring, when trees draw leaves from their sleeves
\nthe tunnels are crisp and cool
\nNew perfume in ancient nostrils
\nlike being nineteen when every friend is a genius
\nevery woman an unbearable beauty
\n
\nSummer rolls in and the train\u2019s breath
\nis the inside of a prostitute\u2019s knee brace
\nWinter\u2019s burning chapstick, the lining of some troubled stomach
\nDamp and too sweet like something alive but not right
\n
\nThe express roars past caves where dinosaurs shot heroin
\nThe local blinks dirty doorjambs on the throne room
\nthe slaughterhouse and the sanctum
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\nThe late train forgives more than we can muster
\nBut patiently demands an answer
\nbeyond the faith misplaced
\nin STEM courses for reformed prophets
\nin wealth, youth or health
\n
\nGhosts shuffle aboard in clothes they didn\u2019t choose
\nLike everyone who\u2019s excited to be here, they\u2019re bad news
\nLiving men wear coats embroidered with insignias
\nof armies that would never accept them
\n
\nThis Door is Locked For Your Safety<\/em>
\nBut believe what you want\u2014it\u2019s still locked
\n
\nA skeleton-raw woman
\neats Tupperware salad at midnight
\nand scratches imaginary mites from her scalp
\nallowing time to continue, the infants to draw breath
\nthe doors to open and to close
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Colin Dodds is a writer. His worked has appeared in more than 300 publications, been anthologized, nominated and shortlisted for numerous prizes, and praised by luminaries including Norman Mailer and David Berman. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and daughter. See more of his work at thecolindodds.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"