dreaming baby eighteen (1985)

i was riding second class youth eurail

amsterdam to geneva, two german

girls or silly women were sitting next to me

speaking to one another

giggling with furtive glances at me.

do you speak english? smile,

laugh, side to side nod no,

just a bit. oh.

i curled up in my space

a fetal position hands cupped to breast

content on my face sleep in my eye

shortly i awoke to hear snort snort stifle

why do you laugh? they reply,

blush of flirtation, you look like a

dreaming baby. slow bumpy

train ride, air so sweet.



(age 18, 1985)