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Open Poetry #16
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Kansas City Union Station - All Aboard!!!
| Open Poetry #16 |
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Kansas City Union Station - All Aboard!!! |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart 
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Union Station – All Aboard!!! They cried, “The Union Depot has got to go!” and the City Fathers said it was so for Kansas City still had a ways to grow many a deal was wrought, but fell through, you know so Samuel Felton, he hurried, came right on board and soon maverick railroads held all of the cards. A man of great ego, was one Jarvis Hunt he certainly knew how to pull off a stunt he did all things by grandiose design leaving all other architects far behind. A colossal monument was his soul forte “finest thing in the United States!” he’d say Great arched windows bathed all in sunlight Edison’s bulbs fairly lit up the nights children and adults came from far and wide soon ‘twas late Halloween eve at eventide bands in the balcony struck up their tunes and voices of all rang through the great rooms the Boy Scouts, club members, and ladies galore talked nineteen to the dozen and strolled through the doors men in padded shoulders of gray and brown suits new cuffed trousers and spiffy black boots Victorian dressed women, their hair high in curls admired the bravery of primped Harvey Girls all admired this station of pure design beholding its clock piece to which all set their time amid gleaming halls of marble and stone all shimmered and glimmered and fairly shone soon the grand Katy Flyer came hurtling in and muffled the hurrahs with a clashing great din through the glorious entrance to lands of the West KC now had a gateway of architects’ best though a glorious holiday spirit filled the room still some naysayers had spoke of its doom for though Kansas City was one of the best it had to stand firm, as time would attest as one legend goes in June of thirty-three the FBI caught Frank Nash from his vigilant spree in front of Union Station waited an old Chevrolet back to Leavenworth Prison they would take him that day the story goes, bullets flew among the parked cars the Union Station Massacre left some deep scars soon the redcaps saw a new and different train a smooth looking caterpillar ruled the terrain the M10000, a streamliner’s new age took Kansas City forward, it was all the rage renamed City of Salina, it gave the future hail joined by Burlington and Zephyr, took over the rails its grace and glide, its aroma of new smell air conditioned comfort kept one feeling well Buck Rogers’ fantasies to life had come true a good meal was served, like Kansas City stew the Heart of America became a hub for the trains and left a legacy of tales for historians the decades passed, train use was rare people had taken to cars and/or air the station fell into great dis-ease and abuse the people ignored it, as they did the caboose its’ paint became faded, the rooms became dim old Jarvis Hunt would have wept tears at this sin some ninety years past the inception of stone the two Kansas Cities came together as one allowing a new tax to be put into play so Union Station would stand tall again one day ~ now the clock watches over a new century ~ ~ and the building, glorious, awaits you and me ~ ©Karilea Rilling Jungel 10 October, 2001 [This message has been edited by Sunshine (edited 10-13-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
"the Boy Scouts, club members, and ladies galore talked nineteen to the dozen and strolled through the doors men in padded shoulders of gray and brown suits new cuffed trousers and spiffy black boots Victorian dressed women, their hair high in curls admired the bravery of primped Harvey Girls" Bravo Karilea! Wow! This was excellent! You took me through a journey of time with wonderful visuals ... much enjoyed the historical and descriptive elements in this piece, well done my friend, well done!  Best wishes, /Kit |
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Tracey Member Elite
since 2001-08-29
Posts 2808where insanity meets breeding |
What a lovely story you tell us here. The station certainly looks lovely. I was in Kansas City a couple of months ago (and got a speeding ticket into the bargain). If I'd known this fine building was there, I would have gone to see it. Mind you, I was on business and time was tight (hence the ticket!!) If she who dies with the most toys wins, then can I have some toy boys please? |
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Logan Senior Member
since 2001-05-28
Posts 1641Arkansas |
Ahh, Sissie, I came through the gates of that fine old place, many a time on my way to Lexington..Thanks for the memories that I experienced and my Dad and Uncle before me..very good write of a timeless building...very gentle smile |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Wonderful write on a beautiful piece of history here. Enjoyed very much! ~Nancy~ ~I've loved you forever, in lifetimes before.~ |
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SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
"its grace and glide, its aroma of new smell air conditioned comfort kept one feeling well Buck Rogers’ fantasies to life had come true a good meal was served, like Kansas City stew the Heart of America became a hub for the trains and left a legacy of tales for historians" now I want to go there and see for myself wow, this is incredible thank you for this |
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Masked Intruder
Moderator
Senior Member
since 1999-05-23
Posts 1231Near golden sunsets |
If anyone needs a place to stay while they are site seeing, just give me a ring. *grins* |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Great arched windows bathed all in sunlight Edison’s bulbs fairly lit up the nights children and adults came from far and wide soon ‘twas late Halloween eve at eventide bands in the balcony struck up their tunes and voices of all rang through the great rooms ================================= look at you rhyming yer poetic behind off and teaching us a history lesson in along the way... this was a treat for the tongue to read aloud melodics and memories...way cool poetess Sun Here I stand like it matters... |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
I never will have to travel being a member of Passion, and here I went somewhere new again. Do I have to tell you about 32 nice older people who are going to love this story read to them on Friday? Oh boy, are they going to love this one, as I know I did. Karilea, thank you for being you. ~I always have time to listen to someone talking from their heart~ |
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
well done my friend. . . and what a beautiful picture. . . wonderful. . . ------------------------------------------------------------- To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
You did a wonderful job with this, Karilea, lots of thought and research! I hope you have sent the administration of the station a copy. You're a really good writer, you know? |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Ah yes - If only that wonderful old building could speak of its experiences... Wouldn't we be all ears?... This is a great tribute to our history... Very kewl indeed..   |
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Interloper
since 2000-11-06
Posts 8369Deep in the heart |
Yes! The Katy Flyer comes to/from Texas. A grand connection of the past to the present. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Sunshine, I bow to your one-track mind and your train of thought   On a more serious note, this is a wonderful piece of work that undoubtedly took a lot of thought and effort and may I say...you did the station proud!  |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
I'm hearing a tune in the background, "Going to Kansas City, Kansas City Here I come" This is an incredible history lesson and a good poem. I've never been to KC, but this station sure sounds inviting. |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
wonderful work!! beautiful photo!!!! i've been there before.... it's a gorgeous station and this is excellent writing, m'friend |
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