Ghost in the Train Car
I.
Can I be nothing? Who would love
nothing? Who would lose them-
selves on purpose.
II.
I was born.
Who could be anything.
I was born.
One thing?
I was born:
III.
an intentional ghost.
In the train car (cool, stainless steel) café (
smells of amaretto) watching (first date) while
you fall in love with the boy.
I militant eavesdrop. I drink your giggle.
I cool stainless steel. I amaretto.
Who would cry at a stranger’s confession.
IV.
I could be the train car?
I could be the boy?
V.
I could be less ?lonely?
Who could be stranger.
Who would be weird/wired
wrong. I am not
right?
I could be a person?
I could be alright ./?
VI.
Espresso old-fashioned. Third wave
coffee. Coffee
can be anything. In the train car
with the jitters. I’m orange peel,
bitters.
I could be less bitter. I could perform
better.
VII.
I am more nerves than person.
Lose the plural & I am bold. I am all nerve.
I could be pluraled?
Volatile—every time you speak you strike
me. Who could be
softer./harder. Who could be happy.
VIII.
Outside, the rain, the grey.
The light couldn’t be softer. It is just right.
Outside, the boy lights the girl
’s cigarette. I could be them.
It is all a great performance.
(all gender is.)
IX.
I could be the lighter?
I could be lighter?
I could be the light ?
(I could be the boy?)
-
Camille Ferguson is a queer poet from Ohio. Their work has been published in Flypaper Lit, Zone 3, Passages North, and Door Is A Jar, among others. Camille was a 2022 Best of the Net finalist and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. You can follow Camille on Twitter @camferg1.