The Train Ride
He on his train
Me on mine
Same track
Same destination
One hundred fourteen years later-
He was 15 and like his brother and cousin
Braved the ocean passage from the north side of the island
to the dirt streets and crowded immigration buildings of Ellis Island
The hard part still awaited him
The years working at the rail yards-
Carrying a meager sandwich, a partial bottle of wine and an ever present switchblade in his boot that he used for more than cutting apples grabbed from trees along the way
This rough place where boys- almost men – spoke languages foreign even to the foreigners
Working, sweating, laughing, fighting
Finding their way to gathering enough to dare a dream of a home and family
To imagine the unknown future sons who would one day bring the rest of us into this world
Like me-
Moving now on this same track
Also Chicago bound
And imagining an unknown future grandchild who may cover this same ground
In a distinct future
With her own dreams held like this journal
Filled with the promise of more
Word Ninja Girl 