Emporia Sunset

EMPORIA SUNSET

“but now nothing is 

visible as cold wind 

blows on a blank, 

pitted planet.

—Denise Low, 

Flint Hills Sunset, 

Spring Equinox

The last thing to go—

The glow on the railroad tracks

Into the sunset

Down past the burned-out—

Santa Fe Railroad Station

Fading memory

Then snowy whiteness—

Turns into jet-black nothing

Emporia sleeps

I’m going with it—

Along with the Doodlebug

And the C of E

I guess this is how—

It happens, the prairie takes 

Back its stark landscape