Shaindel Beers
[photo: Evan Moodie Photography]
Last Train from the City
They must have been stoned to move
so slowly
that molecules of still objects
buzzed around them,
the grey aluminum wall of the train
vibrating
behind their kiss.
His upper lip stretched
taffy-like
before her lips released it,
their bodies swayed
as the train jolted,
and her lower lip retracted
from between his.
The kiss continued
for miles
beginning under city lights,
then further and further
through suburbs then fields
until a haggard woman,
child on knee
baby in stroller
barked, “Hey!
There are kids here!”
ruining it
for the rest of us
wistful
and bitter
because we’d never been kissed
like that.
* * *
“Last Train from the City” is (c) 2009 by Shaindel Beers, used by permission of the author
and comes from her highly recommended collection A Brief History of Time – by Salt Publishing
Enter here by 29 June 2009 to win a copy of her book:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6135468.A_Brief_History_of_Time
Visit Shaindel Beers at http://www.redroom.com/author/shaindel-rebekah-beers
or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Shaindel-Beers/521563806
Read a Jesus Crisis interview with Shaindel Beers at
http://crisisblog.crisischronicles.com/2009/05/13/beers-to-you—poet-shaindel-visits-crisis-chronicles.aspx
Shaindel Beers’ poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. She is currently an instructor of English at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Oregon, in eastern Oregon’s high desert and serves as Poetry editor of Contrary (www.contrarymagazine.com). She hosts the talk radio poetry show Translated By, which can be found at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onword.
Last Train from the City (by Shaindel Beers)
28 Thursday May 2009
Posted 2000s, American, Beers (Shaindel), Writing
in
Christina M. Brooks likes this.
Christina M. Brooks at 9:45am May 28
Cool.. I ‘ll stop by ands read later… but I really like her stuff.. so keep it coming.
Amy Watson at 9:47am May 28
me too, she’s cool
Mark Wilson at 9:51am May 28
hope you’re feeling better this morning
John Burroughs at 9:54am May 28
Thanks, Chris and Amy! I love the entire volume. But I only asked to use two of her poems from the book – lest we give the whole thing away for free and help put her publisher out of business, which would not be cool. Since then, Shaindel’s offered a couple of videos of her reading – awesome! – and I hope to post them in the near future.
Christina M. Brooks at 9:55am May 28
Then I know what my next purchase will be for poetry.
John Burroughs at 10:02am May 28
Thanks, Mark! My wife (a nurse) thinks I have the flu – so I’m hibernating in bed with the laptop and a couple of books, trying to stay focused and at least get something accomplished. Might try to sleep some more…. You won’t regret it, Chris!
Annie Farnsworth at 10:09am May 28
my copy of ABHT is on order from Salt & i can’t wait to have it in my hot little hands. 🙂
John Burroughs at 10:10am May 28
I predict you’ll love it like I do, Annie!