The Great Divide.
By P.B. Phillips

She saw him, north of the tracks.

He saw her, south of the tracks.

They told her, 'He's no good, the rich and their evil Goddamn looks.'

They told him, 'She's no good, the poor are all evil Goddamn crooks.'

Everyday, rain or shine, just as the sun would set.

He going east, she going west, at the level crossing they always met.

She would stop and stare into his beautiful eyes.

He would linger, not wanting to say his first or last goodbyes.

A stolen few minutes, that she and he had to eternally hide.

A stolen few minutes together, across The Great Divide.

Winter after Summer, no change, no expectation of gladness.

Year-after-year, played out their little pageant of unbidden sadness.

No touch, never loves tender kiss.

No change to Mr. & Mrs. from Mr. & Miss.

For thirty years, rain or shine, just as the sun would set.

He going East, she going West, at the level crossing they quietly met.

They told her, 'He's no good, the whites and their evil Goddamn looks.'

They told him, 'She's no good, the blacks are all evil Goddamn crooks.'

The last day of that hot summer of 1905.

Was the last day she saw, his beautiful eyes alive.

A heart attack raged and took away his sad little life.

His longing heart finally broken, without her, as his beautiful wife.

As the sun set, one year exactly to the day.

At their level crossing she took some pills and washed her sad little life away.

She and he were not allowed to cross The Great Divide.

Even though it was just 4 feet, 8 & 1/2 inches wide.