BY JAY WELLER
ALONG A SMALL TOWNS SOMBER FRAME
ACROSS THE TUNDRA’S FROZEN PLAIN
A FAR OFF DISTANT CRYING TRAIN
THE CONDUCTOR TAPS THE SEATS
A LONE PIANO SOFTLY PLAYS
A RAGGED DOG, LIKE FIDDLE, BAYS
A VAST UNBROKEN GLACIAL STAGE
A SIBERIAN SYMPHONY
YOU SIT ALONE UPON THE STAIRS
SOFTLY HUM YOUR MOTHER’S PRAYER
FOR YOU ARE HERE AND I AM THERE
NOT WHERE WE WISH TO BE
HEARTS ARE TORN AND RENDERED BARE
LIKE SOLEMN WINTERS BLINDING GLARE
BUT I WILL SIT WITH YOU UPON THE STAIR
IF YOU ONLY WAIT FOR ME
THE CONDUCTOR TAKES THE FINAL FARE
YOU ARE HERE AND I AM THERE
BUT IT REALLY DOESN’T MATTER WHERE
IN MY HEART YOU’LL BE
WITHOUT YOU I AM INCOMPLETE
LIKE GREAT PETER WITHOUT HIS FLEET
LIKE A DRUM WITHOUT ITS BEAT
A LOCK WITHOUT THE KEY
WE WILL DANCE THE MEADOWS GOLDEN CREST
EMBRACED BY SUMMER’S WARM CARESS
YOUR SPINNING TURNING GYPSY DRESS
YOUNG AND BOLD AND FREE
FLOWER PEDALS WILL FORM YOUR BED
WE WILL FEAST ON RUSSIAN SOURBREAD
AS DOVES ASSEMBLE OVERHEAD
IF YOU ONLY WAIT FOR ME