GOOD OLD BRITISH RAIL
(circa 1966)
CLICK CLACK
the old train
rumbles
along
the track
“Wallington
Wadden
and
West Croyden”
the Indian
conductor
yells in his
sing song
tone
he clips my
ticket
fervently
and tips
his cap-
I always
had a
thing
for
conductors
especially
Indians
CLICK CLACK
feet upon
the seat
I watch
men
bowler
hats
hiding
behind
their
“times”
pretending
to read
their brief
cases
pressed
between
lanky
perfectly
creased
knees
they look
at me
sideways
uneasy
with
my
hippie
garb
don’t they
have
daughters
like
me?
with
long
flowing
skirt
boots
bangles
jangling
long hair
and
bangs
CLICK CLACK
old ladies
raincoats
and
chunky
shoes
clutching
net
shopping
bags
looking
for
bargains
rich folk
looking
to shop
Harrods
get the
same
china
as her
majesty
the queen
a human
smorgasbord
swaying
back
and forth
CLICK CLACK
an
anti-
maccasar
behind
my
head
un-fog
the
window
seeing
row
houses
tool
sheds
green
yards
laundry
blowing
in the wet
breeze
factories
car lots
taller and
taller
buildings
CLICK CLACK
HISSS
the engine
lets
off steam
“WATERLOO
end of
the line
watch
your step
disembark
ladies
and gents.”
THE ENGINE SIGHS
I hurry the
long platform
to the red
Underground
sign
down long
escalators
to the belly
of the earth
I hurry to be
on
Carnaby Street
where it’s
all about
to
happen
for me.
Ana Christy
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2010/07/trains-and-railways-extravaganza-part-2.html
Nice job!
Thanks for the nice comment-i checked out your blog-most cool hobo hippie 🍩🍩
Thanks bigboy. Hobo hippie
What a nice poem! You really capture the rhythm and feeling of train travel. And I love the train pictures. Thx