Journey To Italy. Poem by Michael Cochrane

Night sleeping from Paris to Nice 1986, im up on the top of a four berth train compartment, claustrophobic touching the roof. The sounds of the night snoring and coughing and jolts over crossings, shaking my bones.
The train moves towards the south, and im dreaming of clear blue skies and the ocean.
An old man with a wornout Panama hat pulls up the blind, revealing the vista of Cannes beach the interior of the cabin is transformed by the sea and the light and the teeming life its another world away from Glasgow's, grey skies.
Im in awe!
The window is opened and the scent of sweat is refreshed by the perfume of the fruited branches of lemon and salty air.
Passing by the riveria into Italy I arrived at my destination Laigueglia, the Jasmine flowers fill the little square and little old women wearing black chat under the shade of the trees.
Old men playing cards outside the bars oblivious to the world.
No rain for two weeks!
Heaven!
Michael Cochrane ©️ 2026