TRAINS THROUGH COBALT
There is a kind of comfort in the sound of a train,
The whistle and the rattling is really not a pain,
It’s a type of reassurance that things still carry on,
That in life around you there is work being done.
For a long distance before it comes the whistle blows,
That happens at every crossings and concern shows,
For there are no gates to stop the traffic out there,
The engineer knows each one, maybe says a prayer.
Listen, here is one coming lets go to the window,
There will be time before the engines start to show,
See the light come round the bend, he’s fast today,
Lets count the freight cars, if that long you can stay.
Two engines, that will be short, four will be quite long,
And the rumble and clank of the wheels sings a song,
A hundred and sixty two is the record so far for me,
But those who pass in the night, are too dark to see.
They seem to last longer, rumble on for an age,
Then when all is quite you wait for the next stage,
The plaintive call of the whistle a distant farewell,
From a comforting train I’m beginning to know well.
(Millicent) Ann Margetson 31 October 2005