TRAIN 1

There’s a train going nowhere.
People are lined up for seven city blocks,
waiting to board.

The station platform is crowded,
all ages with their bedding,
a few belongings,
waiting patiently.

The lucky ones are on board
sitting, patiently waiting,
but even those seven blocks away
feel privileged.

The train’s brand new,
or it was
many years ago.
It’s never been anywhere,
done anything,
except sit and wait,
to go nowhere.

Train 2

Carriages are wooden,
the ones with the sign on the toilet saying,
‘Please Refrain From Using Toilet
Whilst Train Is Standing
In Station.’
People do,
refrain, that is.
What else is there to do?

32
In the station canteen
a middle-aged man
eats meat pies
drowned in peas.
and every so often asks,
‘Any news of departure
time?’

The waitress shrugs,
she’s third generation
canteen worker
and well versed by
mother and
grandmother
in the art of silent reply.

Train 3

Sometimes rumours
whip and whirl
through waiting passengers.

A departure
a time set,
cancelled.
Disappointment falls
like
rain
on
an
outdoor
wedding.

But the wise ones know—
when you’re waiting
for a train
to nowhere
it’s not the journey
that matters,
it’s the sojourn.