This piece inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s famous film title.
Vignettes, however, evoked by another slightly less sinister train situation: Cary Grant meets Eva Marie Saint in “North by Northwest”.

Scene I:


Friday, late afternoon eager
labors shelved for hurried shopping, early rush commute
anticipates intimate evening, romantic assignation appealing
midst-of-bloom tryst, love interest show of promise
phase glowing, relationship waxing
slow peel layers of disclosing
familiarity, revelation, trust coming cozy
desire growing
seduction feeds mood flavors
stains soul’s waves
of sensuous thoughts


French loaf, fine cheeses
delicious pates, choicest Chablis, full bundles
arms overflowing, enters, claims vacant subway-seat
across the way handsome someone watches
sees, studies well pleased
Eyes meet
self-conscious color rises, recognizes
sparks of pleasant chemistry surprise
suppress of admiring mutual smiles
Oh my!
Each finds situation delightful, the other so fine
reads mind thinking poetry
“A loaf of bread and a jug of wine...”
Brief train ride
interlude sublime
savored special
memorable in time


*


Scene II:


Wind whipped, hair wrecked
fights way for train, blizzard blinding
coat, scarf, muffler wraps but scarcely shields inclemency
mussed, face flushed, breathless mess
ruined morning, wasted cosmetic effort
flings into nearest window seat.
Frustrated femininity looks, feels tasteless
unmade-bed disheveled, unappealing
deep breaths, slow cooling, endeavors minor repair
But wait –
Tall dark handsome interloper pauses, scrutinizes, sits down next
daren’t glimpse
show disaster’s face direct
catch window’s dark reflection
gaze compelling


Side by side, pretend preoccupied
linked by mysterious affinity, buzz warming electricity
soft current of scintillating alchemy
arms and elbows barely touch, not flesh, padded press of fiberfill
prolonged combine of awkward pride with mingled pleasure
forty-minute train trip together
not speaking, yet subtle communicating
two-way consciousness concentrated.
Chance connection fleeting
unforgettable
exhilarating in time.



copyright © Helga Ross 2003