in the fourth standard they told us
to pity the parallel lines

all that longing
and never a meeting

nobody mentioned
the lines that cross

how they get exactly one point
then spend forever leaving it

i think about that
at the level crossing

waiting with everyone else
for the gate to lift

those two have never met
never once been farther apart

some lines are given switches
a little crossing now and then

this one was laid straight
as far as anyone can see

when the night mail comes through
they take her weight together

the same ton in the same second
and neither says a thing

put your ear to one rail
and hear what is coming

long before it shows
the other already knows

what holds them apart
is what holds them in place

the ties have a gentler name
sleepers

it takes every one of them
to keep two rails true

and whatever the distance was
the distance is

from the window of the evening train
they seem to meet up ahead

the horizon swears to it
then moves

let the passengers keep the horizon
we keep the gauge