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Last Train

by James Zealy

Last train

The lone rider waits
As the landscape speeds by
The conductor collects his fare
For a nonstop trip to destiny

Imagined pictures of perfection
Blend in contrast with images passing by
That Complement dreams with reality
Jumbled into a collage of experiences
Until fact and fantasy seem as one

The Rider bumps and shakes
Unable to depart
No brake line to pull
No saving grace to play
No sliding door to escape

An express ride to eternity
Blessed with flashing scenes
Both pleasant and sad
As the train moves ever faster
Straining to climb that last mountain

The boiler is failing
Fear is uncontained
Praying for the completion
Of this last trip
Of this last dream.

The mountain is climbed
The destination reached
The trains last gasp
Leaves the rider at peace.

05/18/2004

Author's Note: A lover of classical music and trains, he died too soon.

Posted on 05/18/2004
Copyright © 2024 James Zealy

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Karl Waldbauer on 05/20/04 at 03:06 PM

While reading this, I got a feeling of movement and, perhaps oddly, a most overwhelming feeling of sadness. Excellent work.

Posted by Anne Engelen on 05/20/04 at 03:23 PM

Just like Karl I experienced this extremely sad feeling while reading this. And yet, I don't think it's such a sad poem. I also like the visual effect of the form. To me it resembles a key hole and behind it there lays destiny, yet one can only see chards of that through it. might be far fetched, but that's what came to mind reading this. Most enjoyable read.

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