the station

I was standing
On the station
I had nothing left to say –

When the sunshine
Turned to darkness
And the shadow lost its way –

I looked beyond
To find it
Over my shoulder gently –

He pressed the button
Took the stairs instead
And then he disappeared –

There was a rock
On the step
His foot pressed hard against it –

Awkwardly he fell
Turning his ankle
Left then right –

Help he shouted
Out at no-one
And everyone walked with purpose past him –

They turned their
Heads away
Like anonymity was King –

It took
Ad infinitum
For the woman to approach him –

And ask him
What was wrong
Why was he lying on the ground –

Can’t you see
I am distressed
I need someone to help me –

Don’t chide me
Stop your scolding
She was dumbfounded by his tone –

As she stood
And turned to leave
He grabbed her arm with force –

Stop, let go
She demanded
With a strength of steel –

His hand retracted
From her arm
It touched her supple palm with meaning –

Was she his
Newfound shadow
In the darkness of the evening –

Lurching forward
Beating resistance
Sensing sincerity would play –

As the siren on the platform sounded
Alerting thousands of commuters
It was time to board their train –

He still lay there
Holding hands
No longer feeling any pain.