The somber cry of a train haunts me as does nothing else, always bringing thoughts of loneliness and rain.  Even on the brightest summer day or the clearest star filled evening, the wail of a passing train stops me cold as I internalize those mournful notes.  And so I would like to share two short poems inspired by distant train whistles, the first from an early morning walk in June of 2006 and the other originating from a sleepless night in March of this year.

 

 

Monday, 6/12/06

 

The echo of a train

cries lonely from afar;

calling, time and again,

no one particular,

as all who search in vain

for where the others are.

 

 

Night Train

 

Just after 2 a.m., the lonesome train

announced its presence to this sleeping town -

a haunting rain-song reverberating

across the valley as a lullaby

played to the rhythm of wheels on tracks.

 

In the morning, the man certain he had

not slept another night before said "I

heard that train again last night."

                                                      She replied,

"Again?  Are you sure you weren't just dreaming?"