David Barnes


Central station

They say
most of the brain closes down
under stress;

hearing
Beethoven's ninth, taking backstreets in your mind:

and it's arduous
facing reality, predators nearby,
impassive, at Perth Central station,

listening, for the clatter on tracks,
at midnight;

          unnerved ...

aware,
clockwork orange ticks close at hand,
hovering to strike.

The brain
kicks into survival mode, tense on the platform
Waiting.

Hoping the Samaritan on the road to Jerusalem
is around after midnight.

revised  © debarnes 2007 March -12th

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