Gary Radice Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

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Originally published: 21st October 2019

Image: gR

As featured in The Poetry Soup Anthology "PS: It's Poetry"

This Poem was placed 1st in the "STRAND CHOICE 4 any form, any theme" Poetry Contest sponsored by Brian Strand (Judged 23rd February 2020)

Carnforth railway staion, situated in Lancashire, England was featured in the classic 1945 film 'Brief Encounter'

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Carnforth

there's a spot on the horizon
in the ripple of the sun
where railway lines and stanchions fuse
and merge becoming one.

I was staring from the platform
when a distant dot appeared
it grew in size and shape and form
and sounded as it neared.

I caught blurred faces turning
as they thundered by so fast
to briefly glimpse where strangers met
each thursday in the past.

back then the steam and music
lit up life's black and white
- by tugging strings when love went wrong
rachmaninoff was right.

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Joanna Daniel March 30, 2023 at 8:57 PM Lovely, Gary, congratulations:) Gary Radice March 31, 2023 at 12:14 AM Thanks Joanna. Read you soon. Cheers - Gary

Speaks Volumes March 30, 2023 at 12:34 PM To one that hasn't been to England, Gary, your poem can be likened to many railway stations every where, and the nostalgia may escape the reader but the wonderful pictures you paint are unmistakable. "caught blurred faces turning As they thundered by so fast''I enjoyed reading your poem. Gary Radice March 30, 2023 at 1:23 PM Thanks Wendy. It was one of my first ever poems I posted here at PS from memories of a visit to Carnforth ten years earlier. The memories were that vivid they stayed with me. Cheers - Gary

Tony Hargreaves March 15, 2022 at 1:14 PM This brings back lovely memories. We used to catch the train from Skipton to Carnforth. A regular service and quick. Seems things changed when Marples and Beeching arrived on the scene to talk profit and self interest. Tony Gary Radice March 16, 2022 at 2:33 AM Thanks Tony! We visited Carnforth station some time back just to stand on the platform and breathe in the nostalgia from the film Brief Encounter that was shot there. Don't get me started on Mr. Beeching. :) I wrote a poem about his axe wielding. I detest the actions of the man. Cheers - Gary

Line Gauthier February 7, 2021 at 9:12 AM Awesome mix of nostalgia, rhythm and charm. It's a pleasure to find this lovely poem published in the 2020 PS Anthology, Gary~ Gary Radice February 7, 2021 at 1:27 PM Thank you Line. It's one of the first poems I ever wrote and published on PS and remains one of my most read poems. I love the romanticism of steam. Cheers - Gary

Linda Alice Fowler November 20, 2020 at 9:48 AM Beautifully captured Gary! Linda Gary Radice November 20, 2020 at 10:46 AM Thanks so much Linda. I'm really glad you liked it. :) Cheers - Gary

Richard Morris November 20, 2020 at 9:41 AM Nicely done. Gary Radice November 20, 2020 at 10:44 AM Thank you Richard. I appreciate your comment. Cheers - Gary

Line Gauthier April 19, 2020 at 9:47 PM Interesting historical setting. A touching poem. Gary Radice June 15, 2020 at 4:04 PM Thank you Line! :)

Eric Cohen March 27, 2020 at 6:45 AM This is great stuff. All your stuff is good. It's a pleasure to poke around on this site and find real talent. Gary Radice March 27, 2020 at 1:12 PM Thanks Eric. I really appreciate your kind comments and I agree with you that there are many fantastic poems up on the PS site. Cheers Gary

Ann Gilmour January 24, 2020 at 1:57 PM Ohhhh... Brief Encounter is my favourite film of all time, and your delightful poem took me back to this iconic black and white movie, I could almost hear the mesmerising music of Rachmaninoff, so thank you for that and many congrats on your top place win Gary. With kindest thoughts Ann xx Gary Radice January 24, 2020 at 3:23 PM Thank you Ann for your very kind comments. Rachmaninoff certainly stirred up the emotions in the film and played a 'key' part. I visualized the steam trains coming into the station as I stood there on my visit. Gary :)

John Watt January 24, 2020 at 11:59 AM Gary, a delightful read accompanied by a fitting image. I particularly enjoyed the lines "In the ripple of the sun / Where railway lines and stanchions fuse", and "the steam and music / Lit up life's black and white." Congrats on #1 in Brian's contest ~ John Gary Radice January 24, 2020 at 12:55 PM John, I really appreciate your comments. I was blown away with the placement. I just wrote down on paper a few months back what I remember seeing that very hot day in 2009 on a quick visit to Carnforth station. The railway lines and stanchions fusing may also be viewed as a metaphor of sorts for the coming together of the past and the present. Thanks again! Gary :) EDIT: Image accompanying poem has been changed since this comment.

William Kelii Kekaula January 24, 2020 at 11:47 AM An amazing piece, Gary, worthy to have garnered its righteous placing -- a personal FAVE -- Aloha, William Kekaula Gary Radice January 24, 2020 at 1:00 PM William, I'm thrilled that this poem is a personal favourite of yours. It makes this hobby of writing poetry really worth the while. From Liverpool to Hawaii: "Mahalo nui loa ia 'oe!" Gary :)