Quality Time Poem by bryan wallace

Bellarena Railway Station -
A summer's afternoon in June.
An empty track-side bench
Inviting me to take a seat.
The old station's Victorian brickwork
Radiates heat in the mid-day sun.

A quiet time for travelling,
Or so it would seem - not a soul to be seen.
I have the platform to myself -
The peace and tranquillity
Of the County Derry countryside
Envelops and overpowers me, and I surrender
Into a state of absolute contentment
As a gentle seaward breeze
Plays a tune on the railway gates.

Time is suspended - I sit in rapture,
The dust and dirt on my bicycle -
Evidence of the journey undertaken.
The unexpected gift strapped to the carrier -
Evidence of the friends I had visited.

The sound of the approaching train
Shatters my peaceful reverie.
Beautiful scenery and the pleasure
Of the company of good friends,
The unhurried and carefree joy of a few days
Spent travelling with no particular place to go.

Back to work tomorrow, but the memories remain
Of a weekend well spent. A tiny piece of calm
Amidst the turbulent storms of working life.