Where Did You Go? Poem by Herbert Nehrlich

It was a German train.
They always leave on time.
The platform had a sprinkling
of weary travellers, that stood around,
and I was one of them.

My destination was Berlin.
An interview with, what to me
seemed the Almighty God himself.
At issue was whether I'd get in
the course, that at the time was
Free Philosophy.
Departure time was two minutes to twelve.

A medium plug of chewing gum
adorned my seat.
Grafitti on the window said 'Fick dich',
an ad praised the advantages of meat,
and beer was pictured of the famous Lich.

I settled back, the uni catalogue
in hand,
around the wrist the lucky copper band,
and off we went after the whistle blew.
My interview? I didn't have a clue.

And, rolling into Berlin Central Station:
'All please would REmain
seated until train stops'
my eyes were bored and ventured
through the glass.
I saw some tourists from a foreign nation
and green, bestarched, officious looking cops.

A train pulled out to leave this
busy town,
apparently it was a CCE.
I was about to get my suitcase down,
when an alert went from my eyes to me.

And no one would believe me
- perhaps YOU would? -
my trusty eyes were right,
did not deceive me.

A face of such angelic charme
was looking at me,
no it searched my face!
I sat there torn between
a heatwave and alarm.

My soul however knew she was MY face.

My panic started when I knew that her caboose
was going to the Eastern section.
And so my destiny it was that day
to lose
that lovely being to the wrong direction.
Nothing could be done,
that much I knew.

That was in 63 when JFK was there,
I didn't get to see him, I was busy.
The interview went well
(although I wasn't REALLY there) ,
I thought about her and it made me dizzy.

Today, there comes the odd occasion
when she appears
for just a tiny second and a fraction.
My right brain does not need persuasion
that with her eyes this angel beckoned,
and that it wasn't just a train-of-thought reflection.

For: Her