The grave at the railroad tracks

Persevere through sorry pathways of neglect
through howling open mouths on concrete slabs
tufted with innocent grass

Though you neglect it a culture flourishes here
like germs or gems with an inner life
reflected by the quality of cuts and colds
exemptions and shivers
that say keep away
like signs for high voltage
signs on the railroad tracks

Here is one whose name is X
not the real one he says
only marks the company of coming trains

A name that’s heard through plots of grass
in purple trees the color of a king’s lamented haze