by Laura Cushing
1. Penn Station, NY
A Columbia University student
backpack on his shoulders
i-pod in ears, a going-home smile,
checks the schedule - all on time.
2. Market St. Station, PA
A Chinese couple exchange
glances and bites of sweet
and sour chicken as they
wait for the child to arrive.
3. Union Staton, DC
An intern going south
dries her goodbye tears
in a handkerchief borrowed
from a political friend. Business
will bring her back soon.
4. Culpeper, VA
A slight delay in schedule
causes a long conversation
between a woman and a man
that ends in an exchange
of addresses and promises.
5. Greenville, SC
A young sailor helps an
old woman with packages.
An old veteran helps a young
woman with her baby
carriage and his kind words.
6. Birmingham, AL
A man and woman whisper
heads bowed, hands held.
Will the ticket take them
far enough from troubles?
They hope, they dream.
7. New Orleans, LA
You spy a crescent moon
outside our train window,
and turn to me, saying
"This is it, our last stop.
We're finally going home."
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Comments: 91
Something different.
Are correspondents eligible for participating in this contest though?
Nice work~10
Sent by Austin~
Karen
So, very thorough. Excellent poem!!!
good luck in the contest.
I'll be on the Accela to NYC for my sister's wedding in 4 hrs.
Also, many "good" fans said your poem was "unique." Some "naughty" fans said it was "very unique." We all know that this would be impossible.
On a more substantive note, I believe this train goes to a town not too far from me, Gainesville, GA. Thank you for calling attention to trains. We need more of them as we try to get off of oil.
Z'
I just wanted to say I am finally going through what is now under 6,500 pieces of gather new mail that is in my inbox on here. So with that in mind I have finally come to a piece of mail that was addressed to me in regards this article submission you have created to share with the gather community. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your piece with us here at gather. :o)