At the station, I met the man
with earlobes for eyes.
He was in a blue silk suit
and wore these red penny loafers
that he tapped on the platform
like he could summon hell
or even heaven.

I could tell the man
had never ridden the train.
The earlobes
gave no hidden sight.
I saw myself in him.
He saw black and perhaps
red.

I think when we die
we'll get earlobes for eyes, and
we turn into earlobes.
Which is a shame, but

the man was right
to tap the platform
for angels
or demons hiding.

And I love that man
who goes to the station
having never ridden the train
to talk with a young passenger
who's only lived
once or twice.