Waiting for Poets at the Wilmington Train Station
I Stare Out at the Brandywine and Invent a Lover

Joshua Zelesnick

1.

the river moves

away from us
and takes

itself with it

like
sisters with long hair

wrestling
for an apple

rolling
down the stairs.

you should stay.

we’ll have a picnic

beneath
the bridge. i’ll

bring the rain
and a flock of gulls

—you
bring perspective

and an open palm.

2.

—look!—
at the buildings—
they sprout

as quickly
as circus tents!

they all have labels

like name tags
that cling to shirts

it’s comfortable
to know where

you’re going

to see it
from miles

away.