I am still uneasy about heading
underground
into the rat infested tunnels that are home
to the winding metal snakes
that weave far and wide
beneath the city streets.
The yellow line, a warning,
still haunts me.
The musty odor sets me on edge.
The blackness waiting just around the bend
is enough to make me want to
turn back.

How it must have stung
when your body hit the carbon steel,
your hollow bones clanging against
the rails,
breaking from the force.
(In your stupor, you may not have
noticed
the blood)
The dim glow of the distant mechanical beast
grew brighter, harsher,
as it sped up,
staying true to its mark.

I don’t like to think of what happened next.
(I wish I knew what to say to your father,
even after months have passed).