8980

The flag was torn in a Tuesday tug-of-war
I was standing there in tatters when the carnie took the floor,
Left my cellphone for a suitcase,
Checked the pockets for a clue—
There was an atlas;
It reminded me of you.

Chinese dragon inches toward the boarding gate.
Found my seat and told a joke to break the ice, but it broke too late.
The punchline shattered on the carpet,
All our faces turned to shale
Up the Hudson for a furlough to the rail.

8980 on an overnight train
Crawling back toward the national pain,
I'm a city boy swimming in the Laramie plain
Looking for something—
What it is?
I just wanna talk to you.
I just wanna talk to you.
I just wanna talk to you.

Smoke break breathing North Dakota in the snow.
Is difference only distance from the people I don't know?
'Cause here I am with strangers
Singing four-part harmony
Of a pasture undivided to the sea.

8980 on an overnight train
Crawling back toward the national pain,
I'm a city boy swimming in the Laramie plain
Looking for something—
What it is?
I just wanna talk to you.
I just wanna talk to you.
I just wanna talk to you.

Last light sinking in an unfamiliar bed,
Crooked shoulder, crooked conversation
Running through my head,
Gonna count the trees and taillights
'Til the hour I'm left to dream
Of that pasture undivided to the sea,
Undivided to the sea.