Passing Under Termini
It seemed odd
maybe even somehow wrong
to pass under
where the trip should end
or at least begin.
Yet, sotto voce:
“We are passing under Termini.”
As if announced over the train’s
public address in Italian;
which would have gone
without comprehension.
Was it returning from Tre Fontane,
Fossanova, or Ostia Antica?
Perhaps it does not matter.
Termini — terminal — but also
termination — an ending — a finish.
Thus it is at end;
and also perhaps a beginning.
No where is it
— a passing under.
Implication gives no substance of it
in — Termini.
Yet starts can come of endings,
and so it must of
passing through,
passing between
passing around
passing over
and so it must of passing under Termini.
Granting no escape of experience
yet somehow not immersed in it.
Given over to a different reality;
a separate path is passing under.
Still it is stuck
up to the undercarriage
in a deep sand rut.
There is no going forward.
There is no backing out.
The sand slips
under the roaring tires
providing no purchase;
providing no hope of meaning;
no escape in sight.
Silver Creek State Forest Campground
September 2, 2015
Roma Series
@2015 Passing Under Termini — Joseph Yarbrough
Reproduction prohibited without written permission
maybe even somehow wrong
to pass under
where the trip should end
or at least begin.
Yet, sotto voce:
“We are passing under Termini.”
As if announced over the train’s
public address in Italian;
which would have gone
without comprehension.
Was it returning from Tre Fontane,
Fossanova, or Ostia Antica?
Perhaps it does not matter.
Termini — terminal — but also
termination — an ending — a finish.
Thus it is at end;
and also perhaps a beginning.
No where is it
— a passing under.
Implication gives no substance of it
in — Termini.
Yet starts can come of endings,
and so it must of
passing through,
passing between
passing around
passing over
and so it must of passing under Termini.
Granting no escape of experience
yet somehow not immersed in it.
Given over to a different reality;
a separate path is passing under.
Still it is stuck
up to the undercarriage
in a deep sand rut.
There is no going forward.
There is no backing out.
The sand slips
under the roaring tires
providing no purchase;
providing no hope of meaning;
no escape in sight.
Silver Creek State Forest Campground
September 2, 2015
Roma Series
@2015 Passing Under Termini — Joseph Yarbrough
Reproduction prohibited without written permission