Victims Poem by Paul Hansford
Victims
'Trains into and out of Waterloo are subject to delay because of...
a body on the line at Basingstoke' (railway notice)
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A body on the line at Basingstoke -
the train to Waterloo has been delayed.
You'll have to wait; the plastic bag brigade
are clearing up and trying not to choke.
Commuter suicide's no news to us.
We don't suspect foul play; it's by the book.
But one more driver, terror in his look,
takes the day off, wishing he drove a bus.
Neighbours or strangers, those who saw him leap
could never know what so possessed his mind.
His unwished legacy - they long may find
the image of his death disturb their sleep.
The quiet desperation of a life
brought by that final step over the rim
to its conclusion - weep no tears for him,
his torment's over. Who will tell his wife?
Powerful and thought provoking - it's the people left behind who suffer, and the train driver probably more than any. I have heard that some drivers are never able to work again after a suicide. The intro puts me in mind of the glib radio announcements telling us we will be inconvenienced by a motorway closure, but rarely mentioning the horror behind the words.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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8/5/2026 8:23:03 AM # rel_20260803T153344Z_4267e77
The ripple effect of this act of desperation extends to the reader through this expressive and well-crafted piece. With the rythm and impact of a speeding train, this poem leaves haunting images of the 'plastic brigade' lingering long after the final line. Potent stuff! S :)