The FAB&PP Poem of the Month for April 2001

Leaving Florida
3/6/01
thank you for observing rule 90

watching florida
go by
from the train
window riding
north
immersed [again]
in the murmurs,
the chats
the yelping
infants
the community
coming to life
in snatches
of conversation
the old

            caboose
                        on the
siding at
Deland
    “under the
    waxing
    gibbous
    moon,” he
    sighs

bobbing
like a float
on the surface of
time

going by
the backyards
of bitter oranges
and hanging
washes
                     
 discarded appliances

and
motor homes
waiting for
the next ad
venture

the occasional
wave
        from
a child

cranes
posing in canals

sunlight
dancing through
the tall shadows
of the trucks
against the

roadbed

Dorothy shoots
flash photos
through
the window
that reflects
it all back
on us
side by side
watching
               [resolute]
heading home

to the end
of winter

the lion’s roar
This poem is protected by copyright. You may print it for your own use only; other reproduction, commercial use and/or re-distribution of the poem is prohibited.
From OPERATING RULES OF THE NORFOLK SOUTHERN AND ITS RAILROAD SUBSIDIARIES

90. At least two miles before reaching a meeting or waiting point, the conductor must remind the engineer that the authority of their train to proceed is restricted, and the engineer must acknowledge. If voice communication is not possible, the engineer must sound Rule 14(n) signal at least two miles before reaching a meeting or waiting point. If the engineer does not acknowledge, or sound whistle signal, or prepare to stop short of fouling point, the conductor must immediately stop the train.

When voice communication is available, the conductor must remind the engineer two miles in advance of slow orders and conditional stop sign.

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