stands on her seat to lift, one at a time, items rolled up tight
to pack into discreet pockets of her backpack.
Meticulous, slow, not a piece missed, a place for everything
and everything in its
grace
Years ago, I might have ruminated on her youth and beauty,
her streamlined swimmer's musculature, how sinews covered
ribs, skin encased and hair over all
Today, the word "pack" drops into my conscious mind to caress
and to hold. I like it. I search "pack" through miles of gray
matter and find it satisfactory
consistent
Try to bounce, twist and confuse it, and it resists, keeping its
own stuffiness whether in a six-pack, an action (like packing a bag),
or a defensive move (such as packing a punch).
I sit here rubbing a bruised jaw, slap happy with this word I am
packing, while not packing a gun. Take that! Pack. Pack. Pack.
pac.pac.pac! Infinitely reloadable, the word lodges in the brain
fantasy
Leader of the pack, guiding a pack mule into the Grand Canyon
to look for gold, then packing it out, maybe even moving on to
package it and
She is sitting now, her pack above her, only the top of her head
visible as the train leaves the station. Light brown hair.
I wonder about her eyes.
Posted for Poets United "Poetry Pantry #129" and for dVerse Poets Pub "Open Link Night--Week 76--Holiday Edition."
I like to read dictionaries and learn and forget new words. But to have an everyday usable word ruminated on by a poet is even more interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis is very intriguing.........I could see her, and the narrator.......LOVE "I wonder about her eyes."
ReplyDeleteI love people watching too! Such fun!
Have to agree the last line really pulls it all together and packs it in so to speak :-)
ReplyDeleteI like the ending very much. The whole poem captures the feeling of watching people on a train well.
ReplyDeleteTrains are ideal place to people watch - I loved the pensive, deliberate quality of your thinking here.
ReplyDeleteI like the focusing of the word, packing, reloading it, then the chewing and letting it flow within you ~
ReplyDeleteAnd observing people in the train is my kind of thing to do too ~
this is truly magical...may even be one of my fav things i have read by you honestly...so well honed...great imagery, great rumination, really well paced...i like it much...i hope you had a great trip and a great time with fam susan
ReplyDeleteI've had this happen with me too, seeing someone and the mind focuses on one aspect that seems for that moment to encapsulate everything. The final line is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI'm a people-watcher, too. I like the way you think through this... intriguing ending, too. Hope you had a great Christmas, Susan.
ReplyDeleteThis is great. I love your closing line.
ReplyDeleteA fun read, Susan. I do this a lot with words. They're like toys to me. Rummage around, find one in the bottom of the box that hasn't been played with for a while. Maybe make something new out of it.
ReplyDeleteI love to watch people too. Always trying to imagine their thoughts. Put my own in their heads sometimes. They'd probably be horrified to know what I think they're thinking. Ha! What fun!
Great poem!
Playful, observant and yet so human... individualistic with a comment on her lifestyle of her day, but the essence is in the not seen windows to the soul, the eyes ;) Happy Holidays to you.
ReplyDelete