Black Sunday

Tomorrow is the one day I would change for a Monday

with freezing rains melting and no trains running

and sad eyes passing in windows flimsy

and my seat rocking from legs not quite matching

Got passport, credit cards, a plane that I'm catching

Black Sunday falls one day too soon

The taxi that takes me will be moving so quickly

My suitcases simply too full for the closing

of pants, shirts and kisses all packed in a hurry

Two best-selling paper backs chosen at random ---

no sign of sales-persons to whom I might hand them

Black Sunday falls one day too soon

And down at the airport are probably waiting

a few thousand passengers, overbooked seating

Time long suspended in transit-lounge traumas ---

connections broken and Special Branch watching

conspicuously standing in holiday clothing

Black Sunday falls one day too soon

Pick up my feet and kick off my lethargy

Down to the gate with the old mood upon me

Get out and chase the small immortality

born in the minute of my next returning

Impatient feet tapping and cigarette burning

Homecoming one day too soon

And back at the house there's a grey sky a-tumbling

Milk bottles piling on door steps a-crumbling

Curtains all drawn and cold water plumbing

Notepaper scribbles I read unbelieving

Saying how sorry, how sad was the leaving

...one day too soon