David Joseph

Traveling Cross Country By Train

The rails stretch out, breathe life into these western plains,
slope and curve, roll-iron bend, river, plank, wood, and will.
This load cuts the mountains in two, wakes the sleepy
towns that line up along this route, the farmer standing tall.

Up on these wrought rails, it is all we can do to try and hear
the throated voices of great men who plunged hammers
in the dark night after night, who gleamed with sweat and gave
the brightest stars in the universe something to behold.

 

Author Bio
David Joseph is a graduate of the University of Southern California's Graduate Writing Program and his poetry has been published in Doubletake Magazine, the Southern California Anthology , Pittsburgh Quarterly, and Rattle. He has taught at Pepperdine University and Harvard University, where he was a recipient of the Derek Bok Award for Distinction in Teaching.