The Leap - David Van Nuys

[Larry Robinson]

The Leap  


50 years ago

At age 19

Intoxicated by Kerouac’s

On The Road

We went down to the

Railroad tracks

Behind the University

And the Graveyard

Hopping our first freight

 

Moving just slow enough

For my buddy to 

Grab the ladder

Picking up speed 

With me behind

Me barely able to 

Catch up and 

Grab hold

 

The momentum scarily

Swinging my legs underneath

Toward the wheels

But mercifully slamming against

The solid axle block

 

Clambering up the ladder

To the top of the boxcar

Flattened out up there

Our spirits soaring

With the thrill of 

Adventure and Freedom

The winter air

A piercing chill

The sky having grown dark

As we’re pulling into the

Wilmington rail yard

Another freight

One track over

Pulling out of the yard

 

Now the two trains

Momentarily in synch

One slowing down

The other speeding up

My buddy

Crazy with adrenaline

Signals me to jump 

From the one to the other

Before I can object

He’s made the leap

To me the gap looks too wide

Yet following his lead

I too make the leap

 

Now a bright spotlight 

From the engine up front

Swings back 

Lighting us up and

Our train 

with brakes

Squealing

Seemingly stopping

On a dime

 

Our hands and feet

Barely touch the rungs

As we go flying

Down the ladder

Angry shouts behind us

As we crash onto the midnight 

Sidewalks of Wilmington

Hiding behind a dumpster

Hearts thumping mightily in

Our chests

Giving way to relief

Of not being caught

 

Prior to this

In late night dorm bull sessions

We had talked about The Leap

That most adults never take

Choosing instead safety and 

Stultification

We vowed we would make

The Leap

Only years later learning about

The Call to Adventure and

The Hero’s Journey

Embedded in the very

DNA of young males

The imperative to test themselves

Against the rules 

Against the boundaries

Against their deepest fears

Against all common good sense

 

Do not presume such energy

No longer lurks

It can be a dangerous drive

In a dangerous time

Beware of charismatic leaders

Willing to capitalize on the

Vulnerability of youth

For their own ends 

For good 

or

For evil

 

- David Van Nuys
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sonic.net/pipermail/poetrylovers/attachments/20200709/94e6aca9/attachment.html>