Pale wings settle on cold rail
Fog rolls in on silent trail
Counting starts on humid air
Numbers wake in sodium glare
Silver dust on freight car side
Whistle cuts the midnight wide
Wings unfold in sodium glare
Count begins on humid air
Pale wings count each heavy tread
Fog clings low on rusted red
Numbers climb with every beat
Wings stay still on concrete seat
Boot heels strike the ballast stone
Echo walks a path alone
Moth ticks off each measured pace
Dust rises in the beam's trace
Pale wings count each heavy tread
Fog clings low on rusted red
Numbers climb with every beat
Wings stay still on concrete seat
Shutter click in compound eye
Frames the dark as trains roll by
Focus pulls on denim cuff
Numbers stacking, sure enough
Pale wings count each heavy tread
Fog clings low on rusted red
Numbers climb with every beat
Wings stay still on concrete seat
Vapor swallows signal light
Footsteps fade in gauzy white
Count holds steady twelve thirteen
Pale wings wait for what comes in
Pale wings count each heavy tread
Fog clings low on rusted red
Numbers climb with every beat
Wings stay still on concrete seat
Morning burns the fog away
Footsteps cease at break of day
Final number locked in wing
Moth takes flight on silent spring
Rail yard hums a low refrain
Numbers etched in dust remain
Wings beat slow then fast then gone
Count resets at coming dawn
Pale wings count each heavy tread
Fog clings low on rusted red
Numbers climb with every beat
Wings stay still on concrete seat
Pale wings count the thinning sound
Numbers drift to sleeping ground