Saturday, April 14, 2012

IGWRT's The Sunday Challenge "The Southbound Train"

Photo Courtesy of Susie Clevenger's photography blog "And There is More"
The Southbound Train

The southbound train
wouldn't wait, impatiently
whistled once, twice, thrice

and took a young man away
from this sleepy little town
and from me.

He didn't look back
as the train pulled away
s-l-o-w-l-y, oh, so slowly

or he'd have seen me,
one hand upon my heart,
the other reaching, forever reaching.

The southbound train
brought him back;
still no kiss, no sweet smile, mine

a war hero returned
for this sleepy little town
to bury and mourn.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, April 14, 2012


I have NO idea why this evoked such sad sentiments... but it did.  This beautiful black and white photography is courtesy of Susie Clevenger (click the link below the photo) and for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads "The Sunday Challenge".  


This poem is for


24 comments:

Maude Lynn said...

This is perfect, Margaret. It sings.

TexWisGirl said...

awww. probably happened that way too many times...

Christine said...

yes, I imagine that there are many stories like this in history

Daydreamertoo said...

Awww... yes, there are so many stories just like this one. So sad.
Beautifully written.
RYN: Yes, there is some passion 'down time' at the end of the day or, I would be endlessly tired LOL

Karen said...

Happens too many times.

Fireblossom said...

As TexWisGirl said, this sad situation probably played out far too many times.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I like the connection you made with the train station and a fallen soldier, rather than the cemetery.

Anonymous said...

That IS sad.

rosemarymint.wordpress.com

Kerry O'Connor said...

Oooh! The final lines gave me chills - I didn't see that coming. I love the way your poem has been steeped in the history of the civil war.

Cad said...

No greys in this black and white view of love and loss...

Mary said...

Beautiful poem with a sad ending...too many lives have ended that way.

hedgewitch said...

You catch the sadness in that lonely station--all the comings and goings, all the arrivals not happy ones...nice work here, Margaret.

Grace said...

That is so sad...very nice retelling Margaret ~

Kay L. Davies said...

Sweet and sorrowful, so lovely, so sad. Well done, Margaret.
K

Hannah said...

I can feel the heartbreak just seeping from the ink penned here, so beautiful!

Mary B. Mansfield said...

Heartbreakingly poignant, very nicely done!

Susie Clevenger said...

Margaret, what a beautiful poem from my image. It is so visual. I can see the woman/man waving goodbye and feel the pain of a loved one returning sadly a deceased war hero. The photograph was taken in Kearney, Missouri the home and final resting place of the outlaw Jesse James.

Ginnie Hart said...

The gray mood of this image is perfect for your poem, Margaret!

Lolamouse said...

This one evoked sad feelings in me too! Something about train stations and longing, I guess.

Herotomost said...

Airports, train stations, boat docks, driveways....they definitely we their far share of heartbreak and happiness. In between.....hope. Great take on the pic...loved it.

Herotomost said...

Airports, train stations, boat docks, driveways....they definitely we their far share of heartbreak and happiness. In between.....hope. Great take on the pic...loved it.

Herotomost said...

Airports, train stations, boat docks, driveways....they definitely we their far share of heartbreak and happiness. In between.....hope. Great take on the pic...loved it.

Mary Ann Potter said...

I chose the same photo, and I feel the same way about trains --- there is always a goodbye of some kind at a train station. A beautiful poem - sad without being maudling, a slice of real life.

Jannie Funster said...

3 powerful writes in a row.

This one caught me off guard, that ending. Sad indeed.

And I agree with Mama Z -- this does sing.