Would you board the Texas Eagle with me? (A reposting)? Question: This is a re-write of a poem I posted about two weeks ago, following an AMTRAK trip from San Antonio to Cincinnati, by way of Chicago. I liked the original poem, but thought it could be smoothed out a little and I hope this does the trick.
An American Sojourn
By Warren Domke
Clickety-clack, the wheels on the track
It’s the Texas Eagle, northward bound.
But there’s continuous drought, all about.
As I gaze through windows all around.
San Marcos, Austin, Temple, Waco,
Yes, Texas cities they are all;
Fort Worth, Dallas, Texarkana,
Daylight fading at the dinner call.
Nighttime comes, to berths we go.
A “sleeping” car, not well named.
But morning comes, and scenes have changed.
Rainy, sleepy towns through windows framed.
Here’s breakfast in the dining car.
Say, AMTRAK’s food is great.
And St. Louis, now surrounded by floods.
Texas Eagle goes through but late.
Chicago’s next, it was once was my home.
But now just one more station.
A change of trains, Cardinal’s next.
And Cincinnati’s our destination.
Oh, America, I love you so.
How wonderful are your vistas.
And if I may be forgiven a joke,
We love being its turistas.
A further note. I am 70 years old. My earliest long train trip was taken when I was about 4 or 5 years old, and I remember it very well. The sound of a train whistle at night will always remind me of these long-ago trips and will always be a lullaby to me. When I was in college in New Mexico I rode several trains as a practical and comfortable way to get from one place to another. I have ridden trains in Japan, Belgium and Mexico.
I hope to ride again. Will you join me?
I was a little disappointed that so few people answered my first submission. I hope the response this time is a little better, and, if you responded to the first one, I hope you think this rewrite improved the original.
Answer:
I've often dreamt of lonely towns where a whistling train harbingers change.
I would take a boxcar like Frosty, get lost often, exploring the strange
making it familiar. Learning small town secrets- ancient history.
The sound of a train takes me down tracks to mystery
of the unknown, away from this ugly sin city,
where all around the healthy and pretty
flora and fauna can thrive and grow.
Take me with you when you go.
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