Rindon Johnson, 4 poems from Shade the King

At my parent’s house they just built a train from a northern suburb to their suburb. The whole suburb hates the train because trains should lead to cities not suburbs (especially when they cost almost 65 million dollars and only provide service to 65 people a day both ways.) I probably voted yes for this train because I like to vote in California on absentee ballots. They call me for jury duty less and if one day I fulfill my childhood dream and run for president the people can spend their time debating about the sexual nature of the work in my art practice – they will be assured I always voted. Anyway I voted yes because I like trains and public transit and the northern suburb the train goes to. Thanks to my vote when I come home to my parent’s house when the sun is setting I can stand on the balcony and hear 3 long whistles of a train and look at the off center v of the same mountains I have looked at since before I could speak about looking and think I am home now. If I am being honest, this is the only instance I can think of where I feel my vote has mattered.