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Open Poetry #45
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Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light

0 posted 2009-09-22 10:25 AM


     

Distant Train
by Linda L. Dowd

One eve while walking Lundy’s Lane,
in late September’s falling rain,
I heard the dismal, sad refrain
~ Of distant train, of distant train.

Each whistle pull was long and slow.
As steamer neared ~ the sound would grow.
With keening wail of banshee blow
~ I yearned to go, I yearned to go.

Alone, confused, and in dismay
~ Another day of gloomy gray.
I longed to leave without delay.
~ I lost my way, I lost my way...

One eve while walking Lundy’s Lane,
in late September’s falling rain,
I heard the dismal, sad refrain
~ Of distant train, of distant train.

*+*

© Copyright 2009 Linda L. Dowd - All Rights Reserved
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
1 posted 2009-09-22 01:21 PM


I heard it too, here on Pip, in your poem.  I love trains and your poem brought your train to life.  The picture is just perfect too.  Thank you, Linda.

Owl

Honeybunch
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115
South Africa
2 posted 2009-09-22 02:25 PM


Just as well it was a "distant" train because if closer it might have taken you away from the blue pages and that would never do.  I can hear it too though and can feel the longing.


Helen

    

brneyedgrly
Senior Member
since 2009-06-08
Posts 1125
nowhere and everywhere
3 posted 2009-09-22 05:28 PM



aching..beautiful..I love your writing

don't you ever board that train and leave us

love you  

shel (ss)

ESHA SEN GUPTA
Member
since 2009-09-01
Posts 108
Maharashtra,India
4 posted 2009-09-23 12:43 PM


I remembered the days when my brother and I would rush to  watch a passing train.Your poems are always very touching.

Love Esha


LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
5 posted 2009-09-23 12:58 PM



Ditto to Helen's comment dear Linda,

I think you had better stay right where you are. great poem. Love you.

Lindsay

martiniat8
Senior Member
since 2003-06-21
Posts 897
Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic
6 posted 2009-09-23 01:08 AM


I normally love train poems and this one is pretty good. It's not the normal write I expect from you, even though it's sad. I respect and acknowledge the feelings you portray today and done well in your style. Liked the picture and the read.
Alison
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!
7 posted 2009-09-23 01:54 AM


This reminds me of the song "Jenny Dreamed of Trains" -- I love that song and I love this poem.

xoxoxo
A

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
8 posted 2009-09-23 07:43 AM


quote:
Each whistle pull was long and slow.
As steamer neared ~ the sound would grow.
With keening wail of banshee blow
~ I yearned to go, I yearned to go.


Me too ... but though trains are romantic, I'd rather be aboard a starship cruising the cosmos (meeting with friends, not with enemies) .

Such an intensely melancholic write, sweet Linda. Let's go somewhere together!

Love and hugs.
Margherita


Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
9 posted 2009-09-23 11:24 AM


Owl the Wise One ~

Greetings, dear Diana! I especially enjoy the sound of a distant train (note, the operative word here is "distant" lol) when I am in bed at night. We lived just the right distance from the railroad tracks when I was growing up and the trains would actually lull me to sleep.


Linda

Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
10 posted 2009-09-23 11:26 AM


Helen, never fear! I'll stay here!

Love you bunches, Honey!

Linda

Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
11 posted 2009-09-23 11:36 AM


Shel, I have to be perfectly honest. I often surprise myself as to where a poem is heading as I am writing it. This new poetic form brought out two varying themes for me. The first one (Fairy in the Well), came about because of the whimsical musicality of the rhythmical cadence, rhyme scheme and the repetitive syllables in the closing line of each stanza. It made me think of fairies.

With this last one, the rhythm reminded me of a train rolling along. It is fun to experiment with a variety of poetry forms. I never know where one will take me!

Much love to you, my sweet soul sister!

Linda
  

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
12 posted 2009-09-23 11:42 AM


Esha ~

I took a scenic train trip a few years ago, and I had the hardest time trying to stay awake. The sound of the train rolling along the tracks ~ and the rhythmic swaying, had a soporific effect on me.

Love & Choo Choo trains!

Linda

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
13 posted 2009-09-23 11:45 AM


Lindsay ~

Aw, my dear LPW, this is simply poetry and is no reflection on how I am truly feeling. I may have some difficult issues to deal with in my life (who doesn't?!?), but I am taking everything in my stride and "All is well"!

Love you, Aussie Man#

Linda

Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
14 posted 2009-09-23 11:52 AM


martini ~

Cheers, martini! I enjoy reading poems about trains, as well. My brother had an extensive collection of electic trains and we used to spend hours running them on his myriad of tracks and elaborate scenery.


Linda

Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
15 posted 2009-09-23 11:54 AM


Alison ~

I'm not familiar with that song ~ but if you like it, I'm sure to, as well!

Love you, Lasky Girl!


Linda

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
16 posted 2009-09-23 11:58 AM


Margherita ~

Hey, girlfriend, "I'd rather be aboard a starship cruising the cosmos", as well! ~ Sounds like a plan! Get the engines runnin'! Head out on the skyway! Lookin' for adventure and whatever comes our way! ~ "Born to be Wild"


Linda

Artic Wind
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080
Realm of Supernatural
17 posted 2009-09-24 06:35 PM


This is poignant and wonderful EA!

to you
ARCTIC WIND

Alison
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Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!
18 posted 2009-09-25 02:16 AM


The song is about a little girl who claims she hears the train at night.  Everyone smiles and worries about her because the train has not been on that track for a long time.  But she puts a penny on the track and the next morning it's flat.  Jenny dreams of trains.


xoxoxo
Alison

Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
19 posted 2009-09-25 01:27 PM


Dear ARCTIC, thanks for coming aboard the steamer! Toooot Toooot

Glad you enjoyed the ride! lol


EA

Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
20 posted 2009-09-25 01:30 PM


Alison, what a hauntingly beautiful song that would be. Thank you for sharing the theme of it with me. I got little tingles when I read the ending!

Love you, Lasky Girl!
Linda

Mysteria
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Member Laureate
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada
21 posted 2009-09-25 09:32 PM


Now this is how old I am!  My cousins and I used to race down to the tracks and jump the train to downtown, then jump off.  My grandfather was a engineer for CPR and the three of us got to ride the rails up front tons of times.  My one cousin and I used to love to hear about and spot the markers that the hobos would leave to advise others riding the rails where there was a shower or a free meal, etc.  I think they had their very own language.

Well now that I have written you a book, I loved your poem and as you can see it brought back one of the very few good memories of my childhood I had completely forgotten about - so thank you.  Loved it!

        
            Mysteria

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
22 posted 2009-09-26 02:35 AM


Lovely poem, Linda, Best way in the world to get to sleep, listening to that faraway train.
                                Ida

1slick_lady
Member Ascendant
since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088
standing on a shadow's lace
23 posted 2009-09-26 06:29 AM


i love your poetry

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348
Florida
24 posted 2009-09-26 09:14 AM


Loved this Linda! Now I want to go..

"too bad ignorance isn't painful"
~Unknown~

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
25 posted 2009-09-26 10:00 AM


Good morning, Mysterious One ~

Reading your "book" of a response, was a total joy! My goodness, you were an adventurer even as a little girl! ~ and you continue to "Seize the day!"

That was an interesting little tidbit about how hobos would leave markers along the tracks to indicate to fellow 'travelers' where the 'amenities' were!

I'm pleased that my poem was able to bring back joyful memories of your childhood! Choo, choo!

Love, hugs, 'n smiles,
Linda

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
26 posted 2009-09-26 10:04 AM


Marchmadness ~

Yeppers, my dear Ida Belle. Where I live now, there is a train track a fair distance away. The trains don't run very often on that line, however, it is a treat to hear them rolling down the tracks, when they do! ~ Especially in the middle of the night.


Linda

Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
27 posted 2009-09-26 10:06 AM


Helen ~

~ and I love yours, as well!!! ~ a bushel and a peck!

Thank you for dropping by and leaving such a nice reply!

Sleep well each and every night!

Love,
Linda



Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
28 posted 2009-09-26 10:10 AM


Susan ~

Howsabouts you and I hopping aboard a train like our Mysterious One used to do when she was a rebel-rousing little girl! Hey, perhaps she'll teach us the tricks of the trade, so to speak! lol

Get the engines runnin'! Rollin' down the railway! Looking for adventure! Choo, choo! ~ Choo, choo! ~ Choo, choo!


Linda

Lighthousebob
Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725
California
29 posted 2009-09-26 03:11 PM


Sounds like this train is bound for Glory, this train! A Monotetra? WoW! I do really enjoy the challenge of writing different styles of poetry and, sooooo, you knoooow, I'll have to give this style a try! A number of years, while growing up, I lived next to a train track, but, unlike Sharon, smiles, I never hopped on board, but, well, anyway, I do fondly remember the train whistles ‘dismal, sad refrain.’


Nice to read a poem from you again, thank you for sharing, and God bless,

-Bob


Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
30 posted 2009-09-26 05:50 PM


Hi, Bob! Yes, "This train is bound for Glory, this train!" It's been years since I heard that song!

I'm enjoying learning to write in a variety of poetry forms. Some of them can really tax one's mind! ~ Well, my mind, at least!

Come aboard the PW and try your hand at some of them. You'd be a natural.

Thanks for stopping by!

Love & Light,
Linda

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