Scaffolding/tableau of the courted

She took the first train from Belgrade
and I knew then that she had left
to see if she could
make it to you
through the
rain

She had bought her umbrella while
in Vienna and as the station
faded from view her
fingers slid
across its
stem

She had hoped of being a hairdresser
working in Paris or Venice
buying golden lamps
to dress up
her dingy
life

She let her hair untangle from underneath
her scarf and it shook wild in
the flickering yellow light
her dreams were frayed and
dark as midnight

She smiled as she held her letter
hoping to escape me though
knowing you would just
abandon her at the
next station

Was
she
right?