Pages

Tuesday 6 November 2012



Autumn Express

        Photo copyright: James Rainsford

Racing to horizons where the rails
Appear to meet, but never do,
Travelling forever, side-by-side,
Both leading to the end,
Both linked and needed
But not joined as one.
The journey has begun,
Late autumn sun
Crimson like the last leaves
Lingering on frosty boughs
Lights the backs of houses
As we depart the town.
Trapped behind the carriage-glass
The landscapes pass,
Ephemeral as a movie frame,
Each fleeting scene
A dream of ‘might have been,’
Where other lives are lived
In unfamiliar streets.
No stops now
Before the final destination.
Station after station
Pass into history
As passengers recede
Into the past,
Like ghosts awaiting
Their own journeys
To the last stop on the line.
And for us all
The terminus awaits,
End of the track.
In front the buffers
Stop our journey hence.
Behind, the guard,
His signal now at red,
Ensures we can’t go back.

© James Rainsford 2012 




Note to readers: This was inspired by a recent train journey and by my own mortality. Posted to dVerse Poets for Open Link Night on Tuesday  6th November. Your views are most welcome and I'll respond to all who visit here and leave a comment.
Kind regards to all the very talented poets at dVerse. James.

14 comments:

  1. Racing along the track with you, James. I so know this feeling:
    As passengers recede
    Into the past,
    Like ghosts awaiting
    Their own journeys
    memories that fly even as you try to capture them...Thanks for sharing with us tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  2. here is to hoping i have a little time before the end of the line...love how you use the railway imagery...the lines running together but never touching....tot he ghost like passengers passing each other...and moments in the cars....very cool piece james...

    ReplyDelete
  3. James! I simply adored this journey...just a fantastic combination of photo and words...forever joined...but never will they meet, other than in our own warped perception. Oh...I may have to lay claim to another new favorite. I found your wordplay and rhythm to be perfect....much like the steel on the rails...steady, so wonderful when read aloud...okay...we're bordering on gushing here...Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  4. We are all speeding faster than we would like to the end of the line, and so true....there is no going back. I really liked your phot, and the way you arrange your words was just LIKE a railroad track!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You really carry us along here with you. I do hope it wasn't a frightening reminder of your mortality but a rumination that served as impetus. Great conceit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the sound of a train in the night. I know the sensation of the end looming, bright. I adore your representation.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I hope we all have more time before the end...I hope you are well.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the railroad metaphor of how life doesn't stop for anyone... feels like the old train goes a lil too fast...

    ReplyDelete
  9. The season and time of day all add to the sense of being close to the end.
    This bit seems particularly sad to me:
    "Each fleeting scene
    A dream of ‘might have been,’
    Where other lives are lived
    In unfamiliar streets."

    ReplyDelete
  10. So glad I clicked on this wonderful poem. So descriptive of the train ride and of life. well done. Tigerbrite

    ReplyDelete
  11. I never fall asleep when travelling and yet, always found the sound of the clackety clack (as was) would lull me into it. This is a lovely look at both a train journey and our own life journey. We never know when we are going to reach our life destination do we and, perhaps it's just as well.
    Beautiful poetry.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Amazing piece, James... a little sad. I agree w/ Other Mary.

    ReplyDelete
  13. def. no return ticket for this trip...we should enjoy the ride as long as it lasts and as much as possible..great use of the train as a metaphor for life..

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ephemeral as a movie frame

    James,The beginning leads us to the elusive and the illusion, the goal that is just out of reach because it doesn't exist. Sit back and absorb the ride :) Love this metaphoric poem. Beautiful work.

    ReplyDelete

If you wish your views and opinions to be published here, please be polite and respectful. I welcome feedback on my work and will try to respond if you take the trouble to post a comment. Thanks for visiting 'The Sanctum of Sanity.' Hope you enjoyed the experience, James.