Hillside Lullaby Poem by Gert Vlok Nel

I live here in the town where the trains whistle
& the shunters shift the trains around on tracks
day & night
& I'm very much all right
do you remember when you were going to live with me . . .
how did our story go from there?
trains that shunt, trains that stay
trains that always ride in circles here

dream of me & leave me free tonight

this morning early there was a loud bang
down there on that side of the railway bridge
but everything was very much all right
it's only me I long for you so much
& in the meantime everything frightens me
all the words lie empty in my hand
because my heart sleeps with you where the trains
shunt

dream of me & leave me free tonight

Translation: 2006, Richard Jürgens