Alone on the railroad track br I walked with pounding heart. br The ties were too close together br or maybe too far apart. br br The scenery was impoverished: br scrub-pine and oak; beyond br its mingled gray-green foliage br I saw the little pond br br where the dirty old hermit lives, br lie like an old tear br holding onto its injuries br lucidly year after year. br br The hermit shot off his shot-gun br and the tree by his cabin shook. br Over the pond went a ripple br The pet hen went chook-chook. br br "Love should be put into action!" br screamed the old hermit. br Across the pond an echo br tried and tried to confirm it.