Particle of Dust

Particle of dust rides around an old record player track like a jockey on a horse.

Mind spins and traces back its steps and missteps from life’s beginning to end.

Drafted warriors, huddled in trenches of words piled on top of words.

Screeching train, stops dramatically,

unexpectedly, doors slide open stories.

From hobo to army to jockey,

now he whispers his stories of three lives.

On his back screened in porch,

with his cats who listen.

With their nine lives,

their eyes fade and then they glisten.

Every blue moon,

his buddy from the war comes,

he reminds him of words that were buried down deep.