This walk he’d walked so many times
a young man working on the lines,
now just grass where tracks once laid
some broken sleepers old, decayed.
His mind adrift to yesteryear
he spoke of times when trains were here,
of mighty engines powered by steam
the carriages and how they’d gleam.
At times we’d stop to see the view
now ruined he said with houses new,
remembering when it was just a field
where farmers grew their crops to yield.
Along the path now overgrown
remains of huts to me were shown,
places where he’d take a break
in old tin pots a brew he’d make.
We reach the end of an hours walk
It was good to hear the old man talk,
though sad the tears in his eyes
he felt the loss, the tracks demise.
Leaving me with thoughts to hold
I pictured him in days of old,
where trains once ran along this track
for just a while; he took me back.
All rights reserved © 2008
In a list
A contest entry
- TEN THOUSAND POINTS OF RHYME (Now 20,000+) Part 8 Sad/Nostalgia by cricketjeff.
1500 points, ended January 24, 2008, 51 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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I was three the bridge at South Kenton
Waiting for a cloud of smoke and steam
There was no way that I would carry on
Until I was inside that cloud supreme
So you picked a good topic to get my interest, the poem though makes it all on its own.
Thank-you very much for supporting our series. When we started running these it was hard to find rhymers on AP who would admit their guilty secrets, now many of the best "Free-Versers" are entering!
On a more personal level I know that this series has improved my own poetry enormously and that Sue feels the same. We have also met a great many poets we did not know existed several of whom I now class as friends.
If you take your time to read a few other entries we both hope all the entrants will improve in the same ways.
Thank-you very much for this entry.
Jeff and Sue
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Congrats!
Good for you! You got a cup! You are on a run my friend and I'm so pleased to see your heart-tugging poem touched hearts. It certainly has mine. Best to you in the contest!--Kel
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Congrat
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I love poety that goes off the beaten track...
WEll done!!
Monique
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Bravo!!!!
This is excellent!
Bookmarking this...One of your best, Bro......
Lynda
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Like the wordplay within the title,tracks of time to denote the train tracks and time that has been fast tracked. The flow is smooth and lyrical, the piece pure nostalgia with emotion and imagery.
Good luck in the contest and with your continued creativity. Well done.
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Whew, this was a masterpiece my friend. Top standard write that leaves nothing out and speaks tomes about the subject-how do you bloody do it?
I'll wish you luck with this one but I somehow do not think you'll be needing it!!! Blessings- Hilly xxx
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A wonderful poem that captured the posted image so well. Wonderful rhyme and good flow A pleasure to read Thank you Good luck
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Very well done, my friend
I felt the undercurrent of nostalgia and emotion within every line of this piece
Excellent rhyme, also
Thank you for sharing this story and all the best to you in this contest!
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