Visual Verse: Lawn Boy on a Train by Mark Tulin

A big shoutout to Visual Verse for publishing Lawn Boy on a Train.

Here is my edited version. Special thanks to John Crozier for the featured image.

LAWN BOY ON A TRAIN
Mark Tulin

I'm a disoriented lawn boy.
I have a gas mower, a leaf blower, and
a weed whacker but no grass to cut,
hedges to trim, weeds to whack,
or leaves to blow.

I'm a lawn boy without a purpose,
no sense of direction on a train
heading southbound to an uncertain 
destination, and the last station of despair.

If I get off at the wrong exit,
who says there will be uncut grass,
and not cement or macadam?
I am certain to lose time and money,
needing to return the mower
by the end of the day.

But I will not let this railroad stand in my way.
I'm going to push the choke,
pull the starter and get the engine revving. 

Careful not to cross the yellow line,
I mow invisible grass down the aisles,
trim the corners of the seats,
and think of the dreams I want to achieve—
to be the best landscaper,the most creative topiary,
suburbia has ever seen.