Close Up Poem by Francis Santaquilani

When the train went

Around the bend

Her sleepy head swung my way.

Just short of my shoulder.

I'd seen her before

In other seats, on other trains

And in motion.

I noticed

She bit her lip.

The blood seeped

Through her lipstick and dried.

Maybe she bit her lip during a hurried lunch

Or chewing gum

As her fingers flew over the keyboard

Racing to meet a deadline.

She tried to cover it up with more lipstick.

I only noticed it because she was

Perfectly still

And close, very close and

I took the time to look hard,

Very hard.