Where Cheerful Robins Dance

Gleefully you and I smile from a scenic window on life Enchanted by nightfall befriending quixotic autumn sky Embossing crimson brushstrokes on vermilion arc Akin to a painting in classical style of renaissance art Parading in front of our eyes on a thrilling train ride, When orange glow of sinking sunset playfully smiles back, As we savor shrimp-creole with red wine in the dining car And train-tracks beneath us rhythmically clickety-clack Negotiating the panoramic curves befitting forested lands Announcing the mighty reach of whistling train-horn, When the half-moon above peeks through twinkling stars. Balancing gingerly footsteps we jaunt back to our roomette Settling in on narrow bunk beds in a tiny modest space Marveling the red, brown, golden foliage trickling outside Falling on multi-color motif carpeting the misty grounds, As engine screeches intermittently, braking, slowing down, Screaming loud whistle-calls, approaching station stops. We endeavor to sleep until dreams invoke beauteous dawn Awakening to thick white clouds of dense morning fog Slowly giving way to glorious sun-rays piercing the forest, Where cheerful robins dance upon a long leafless branch Welcoming marigold sunrise on the horizon’s blue path As you and I reminisce in the whispering night of romance. October 24, 2019 HM: Strand special by Brian Strand From Atlanta to Washington DC on an overnight train