by Vincent Francone

Published in Issue No. 246 ~ November, 2017

On the Diversey Bus heading west

the driver sings:

“DOWN TO PULASKI’S AS FAR AS I GO!”

 

The tune stays with me, right down

to the jaunty way he sings the words

again and at every stop

until I get off at Western.

 

That was twenty years ago.

Very often—while making breakfast

or during a lull in conversation—

I’ll sing: “DOWN TO PULASKI’S AS FAR AS I GO!”

 

I sing it while walking the dog

and while washing dishes.

It’s my travel song,

road ballad, accented foolish hymn.

 

Yesterday I heard you in the other room

folding laundry, humming

and then, yes, you sang:

“DOWN TO PULASKI’S AS FAR AS I GO!”

I knew you were mine.

 

account_box More About

Vincent Francone is a writer from Chicago whose memoir, Like a Dog, was published in the fall of 2015. He won first place in the 2009 Illinois Emerging Writers Competition (Gwendolyn Brooks Award) and is at work on a collection of poems and stories. Visit www.vincentfrancone.com to read his work or say hi.