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| Photo Courtesy of Susie Clevenger's photography blog "And There is More" |
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
This is perfect, Margaret. It sings.
ReplyDeleteawww. probably happened that way too many times...
ReplyDeleteyes, I imagine that there are many stories like this in history
ReplyDeleteAwww... yes, there are so many stories just like this one. So sad.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written.
RYN: Yes, there is some passion 'down time' at the end of the day or, I would be endlessly tired LOL
Happens too many times.
ReplyDeleteAs TexWisGirl said, this sad situation probably played out far too many times.
ReplyDeleteI like the connection you made with the train station and a fallen soldier, rather than the cemetery.
ReplyDeleteThat IS sad.
ReplyDeleterosemarymint.wordpress.com
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.
ReplyDeleteNo greys in this black and white view of love and loss...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem with a sad ending...too many lives have ended that way.
ReplyDeleteYou catch the sadness in that lonely station--all the comings and goings, all the arrivals not happy ones...nice work here, Margaret.
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad...very nice retelling Margaret ~
ReplyDeleteSweet and sorrowful, so lovely, so sad. Well done, Margaret.
ReplyDeleteK
I can feel the heartbreak just seeping from the ink penned here, so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHeartbreakingly poignant, very nicely done!
ReplyDeleteMargaret, 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.
ReplyDeleteThe gray mood of this image is perfect for your poem, Margaret!
ReplyDeleteThis one evoked sad feelings in me too! Something about train stations and longing, I guess.
ReplyDeleteAirports, 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.
ReplyDeleteAirports, 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.
ReplyDeleteAirports, 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDelete3 powerful writes in a row.
ReplyDeleteThis one caught me off guard, that ending. Sad indeed.
And I agree with Mama Z -- this does sing.