The Midnight Train- - - - A Pantoum Poem by Susan Williams
The Midnight Train- - - - A Pantoum
...The midnight train is coming, wailing and trailing its plaintive whistle again
...Down through all the forlorn years and down through all the midnight tears
...I hear its call come burning through the miles, come yearning down the tracks
...And I'm wondering where it's going and wondering where it's been
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...Down through all the forlorn years and down through all the midnight tears
...I hear it calling me, galling me, following me
...And I'm wondering where it's going and wondering where it's been
...And I'm wondering should I follow or should I stay where I am
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...I hear it calling me. galling me, following me
...Its secrets and its mysteries keep whispering in my restless dreams
...And I'm wondering should I follow or should I stay where I am
...Stay where all is known and safe or do I go a-wandering where all is unknown
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...Its secrets and its mysteries keep whispering in my restless dreams
...Calling me to go rambling and roaming and vagabonding or stay
...Stay where all is known and safe or do I go a-wandering where all is unknown
...Train on a long lonesome journey calling me in the long wistful midnight hours
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...Long and low the whistle comes seeking, winding through the long dark night
...I hear its call come burning through the miles, come yearning down the tracks
...Long and low it comes mourning, crying through the dark dark night
...The midnight train is coming, wailing and trailing its plaintive whistle again.
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........................©2017 Susan Williams
Magnificent, Susan. I can't explain why, but as I reread this verse the 3rd-4th time I could hear Johnny Cash's voice in the background. There's something about the passage of time, the inevitability of the midnight train coming. Whether we're prepared or not, there is judgment coming...and it might just involve a lot of 'wailing and trailing.' A terrific poem, Susan.10+++ no doubt.
A wonderful write. This poem offers us to look at the reality of life. Top score for this exceptionally well penned poem... stay blessed dear poetess! !
WoW! ! ! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for such an uplifting comment, Smoky! ! ! !
This is wonderful, and incredibly good. I love trains, love stories of trains, and love poetry that rides the rails of life, and this one does it all superbly. What a vision... beautiful.
..Long and low the whistle comes seeking, winding through the long dark night ...I hear its call come burning through the miles, come yearning down the tracks ...Long and low it comes mourning, crying through the dark dark night ...The midnight train is coming, wailing and trailing its plaintive whistle again........touching expression with nice theme. It is really a brilliant poem relating to life that attracts me for second time.
Thank you for re-reading. I hope it is just as good to read the second time, my friend!
Fabulous writing. Not only did the atmosphere of the poem live up to the mystery feeling of the title, but it also had the rhythmic feeling of a train. And he discipline of this form of poetry must have been incredibly hard to work within. This really is a masterful piece of writing.
WoW, Judith, you just gave me a train-full of confidence! ! Thank you- I wondered if I'd pulled off this Pantoum effectively. So thank you, thank you, thank you!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/19/2024 10:27:45 PM # 1.0.0.1119
While most have fallen to slumber, The calling of a spell holds her like no man can Wailing it's plaintive cry, through the forlorn years and tears, miles continue to burn, yet it is not the call but the destination you yearn, why is it that when the sound is gone, we realize it was calling us? Susan, you caught the mood of the midnight train, yes the haunting whistle of life's choice that we must address at some given point! ! This is a brilliant piece of work here! !
Thank you, Bill. I hoped you would like it- it seemed the kind of poem that might draw you into thinking of those midnight train whistles calling us to leave our humdrum life and follow its call.... but we are old enough to know better.... we're apt to find the same humdrum existence the same daily grind only in a different city this time if we follow the train. Thank you, Bill for the encouragement.