I love to travel by train. Sometimes the trip passes too quickly. Both of these towns have the accent on the first syllable which makes them quick to say.
Your pacing is perfect. It evokes the transitory nature of the world as seen from the window of a train. The world as observed from a train has inspired a lot of writing, hasn't it? It seems almost everyone who writes at some point tries something in the genre.
“clickety clack, don’t hang back!” There was some song from years ago like that. Loved watching aliens in an alien land as your boys navigated the moral swamps of a modern mall. My girlfriend from years ago was partly raised on a houseboat in northern France and then a mill house in southern France. Her dad was William Wharton, one hell of a writer.
We cover so much ground so quickly and as you observe, it changes the way we see everything. My son lives in Granada so any picture of Andalusia tugs a heartstring.
It's always lovely to see your kids. We were in Connecticut for a week and now in Maine until October, then return to Connecticut for October, November and December.
Thank you Wendy. I hope you take a train ride one day, it is an altogether different experience of travel and, to my mind, the very best next to walking or biking.
After we dealt with the conductor, I grabbed a cup of coffee in the train car and had about 15 minutes left so the tempo of this one was definitely at a forced pace. After rereading it yesterday I sat down and wrote the opening lines that asked, "Can anything worthwhile be written in sixty seconds?" That was interesting to follow through.
From which we could later make maybe some low grade opium, if things get awful. 😉. I have a couple shirts and shorts from Patagonia made of hemp so could also smoke my shorts...All that craziness aside, that was a lovely train ride and too dang short.
I think train a terribly romantic, so a genteel and elegant way to travel when compared to airplane or bus. I love going to the cafe car and pretending I’m on the Orient Express going somewhere refined and stylish. Ha!
I’ve always wanted to take the train through PA just to go around Horseshoe Curve in Altoona. Somehow it’s never happened, but I’ll get around to it, even though there’s nothing refined and stylish about it!
Hi Cheryl. Even though it might not be stylish, I love those old names like Horseshoe Curve. Up on Swans Island, Maine the water is really frigid and there is a great spot called Toothacher Cove. There was a great dramatic poem by Robert Service called "The Hermit of Shark Tooth Shoals", another great name.
Thank you Frederick. These days I don’t have any real poems floating around and so I looked at my notebook from several months ago. The sickening direction of our country has such a dampening effect on anything creative that the sensation of writing a creative poem seems like a distant memory.
Your pacing is perfect. It evokes the transitory nature of the world as seen from the window of a train. The world as observed from a train has inspired a lot of writing, hasn't it? It seems almost everyone who writes at some point tries something in the genre.
All that rhythm and tempo drumming into you, such fun to try capture those fast moving scenes. Thanks for reading and commenting
a lovely read. I could feel the rhythm of the train
“clickety clack, don’t hang back!” There was some song from years ago like that. Loved watching aliens in an alien land as your boys navigated the moral swamps of a modern mall. My girlfriend from years ago was partly raised on a houseboat in northern France and then a mill house in southern France. Her dad was William Wharton, one hell of a writer.
We cover so much ground so quickly and as you observe, it changes the way we see everything. My son lives in Granada so any picture of Andalusia tugs a heartstring.
I remember now that you mentioned that. I hope you get to see him often enough.
I do. He’s flying in for a visit in a couple of weeks. I am hosting a reunion of sorts. Are you to Connecticut yet?
It's always lovely to see your kids. We were in Connecticut for a week and now in Maine until October, then return to Connecticut for October, November and December.
I enjoyed the reading, Weston!
Thanks Lara.
I've never been on a train, but your poem took me for a most memorable ride, Weston. Lovely piece! Many blessings and MUCH LOVE, ~Wendy
Thank you Wendy. I hope you take a train ride one day, it is an altogether different experience of travel and, to my mind, the very best next to walking or biking.
Such a picture and so many good sounds. I especially liked:
"by the clack of the track
that passes for rhythm
if not for the rhyme
of this rushed inspection."
Thanks Margaret. Reminds me a little of the pace of P. D. Eastman’s, “Go dog. Go!”
One of our favorite books when my big kids were small! Dan and I still say to each other, “Do you like my hat?” in our Go Dog Go book voices.
Laurie and I said it just the other day because my sons dog looks as goofy as the one with the goggles.
😁
The rhythm of this poem evokes an old coal-fired, steam-driven locomotive... and childhood memories. I wish there were more trains in the US.
Me too Jessica and to think that we were once such a great railroading nation.
I can feel the running of the train in this! :)
After we dealt with the conductor, I grabbed a cup of coffee in the train car and had about 15 minutes left so the tempo of this one was definitely at a forced pace. After rereading it yesterday I sat down and wrote the opening lines that asked, "Can anything worthwhile be written in sixty seconds?" That was interesting to follow through.
I feel like I just traveled from Málaga to Córdoba with a poet-philosopher in the window seat and a box of poppies smuggled in my carry-on. :)
From which we could later make maybe some low grade opium, if things get awful. 😉. I have a couple shirts and shorts from Patagonia made of hemp so could also smoke my shorts...All that craziness aside, that was a lovely train ride and too dang short.
This poem eloquently chronicles that ride!
Thanks Stan.
Delightful! Love trains, too.
I think train a terribly romantic, so a genteel and elegant way to travel when compared to airplane or bus. I love going to the cafe car and pretending I’m on the Orient Express going somewhere refined and stylish. Ha!
I’ve always wanted to take the train through PA just to go around Horseshoe Curve in Altoona. Somehow it’s never happened, but I’ll get around to it, even though there’s nothing refined and stylish about it!
Hi Cheryl. Even though it might not be stylish, I love those old names like Horseshoe Curve. Up on Swans Island, Maine the water is really frigid and there is a great spot called Toothacher Cove. There was a great dramatic poem by Robert Service called "The Hermit of Shark Tooth Shoals", another great name.
Good poem, Wes. Ialso prefer travel by train when possible. It's a pleasure to watch landscapes unfold as you rest with yourimpressions and thoughts.
Thank you Frederick. These days I don’t have any real poems floating around and so I looked at my notebook from several months ago. The sickening direction of our country has such a dampening effect on anything creative that the sensation of writing a creative poem seems like a distant memory.
That clack of the track, I can hear it.
Thank you MK. It was fun to try to capture the fast pace of everything.
I haven’t ridden a train in 20 years but you’ve managed to capture the rhythm nicely, Wes, and seeing a bit of the sights was a plus! Thank you.
Thanks Paul. After just walking around Màlaga for weeks on end being on the train seemed like a whirlwind.
My trip took a bit longer than 42 minutes, Los Angeles to San Diego
but you beat all that traffic. How long was the trip?
Driving from Los Angeles to San Diego takes about 2 hours; driving back can take up to 4 hours
That’s not too bad. From, say Avignon to Paris by car can be 7 hours but half that by TGV train.
just under 3 hours.
Fast ride. Train tracks clack polished rails shine .
Fun comment Richbee