Loco Motion Poem by Prionsías Ó Canáin
Loco Motion
Have you ever sat on an unhurried train
And watched smile, after corkscrew smile
Painted thin on a puffy faced sky.
I have.
They put telephone cables underground now.
And call it progress.
Have you ever click clacked o’er viaducted valley
Whilst eyelined below, makers of methane
Freckle furiously on the skin of green.
I have.
But they rear cattle in sheds these days.
And call it progress.
Have you ever hugged the cosseting hill
With, in distant wollen view, bleating dandruff speck
Dawn tanned mountain scarps.
I have.
They plant land envenoming trees there now.
And call it progress.
Have you ever?
You have not!
Then scurry.
For progress only goes one way.
One loco motion
A cul de sac of traversed track
Routes singularly tentacular forward,
Never back.
I enjoyed reading this the first time. Then read it again to figure out what I had read - all of your imagery. I think I have except for one or two things - words that I never new existed. That's the beauty of poetry. Let your imagination paint the day. You have made an effective choice of words - real or otherwise.
Wow! can I board that slow train to yesteryear were all was simple and you have no fear
lFabulous imagry portrayed here Frank, very creative piece indeed with a wonderful use of the vocabulary. I love this piece, thoroughly enjoyed the read Frank---Thankyou---Melvina
Simplicity corrupted by man's ever growing ambitions. I enjoyed this poem alot!
Ah. The world is changing, and changing fast. Mother Nature will have a say about that, no doubt.
I loved this one as I have sat on an unhurried train and watched the beauty all around go slowly by, it gave you pause, un hurried we used to savor things. Great poem. Bob
You are really good. A poet after my own taste. There are so few of us.
You're so right, & how often it is we only notice these things when they're already gone... I love the words of this one - 'tentacular' is one to roll around the tongue & savour all day.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
12/5/2025 12:23:36 AM # 1.0.0
The title is inspired. The craziness that so-called progress can be, yet this poem also made me nostalgic for things I've never experienced, because my usual answer to the questions posed was sadly, 'No, ' and it made me wish my answer was, 'Yes.' Lovely read, L&T