the railroad yard

the feelings I get

driving past the railroad yard

(never on purpose but on my way to somewhere)

are the feelings other men have for other things.

I see the tracks and all the boxcars

the tank cars the flat cars

all of them motionless and so many of them

perfectly lined up and not an engine anywhere

(where are all the engines?).

I drive past looking sideways at it all

a wide, still railroad yard

not a human in sight

then I am past the yard

and it wasn't just the romance of it all

that gives me what I get

but something back there nameless

always making me feel better

as some men feel better looking at the open sea

or the mountains or at wild animals

or at a woman

I like those things too

especially the wild animals and the woman

but when I see those lovely old boxcars

with their faded painted lettering

and those flat cars and those fat round tankers

all lined up and waiting

I get quiet inside

I get what other men get from other things

I just feel better and it's good to feel better

whenever you can

not needing a reason.

-Charles Bukowski