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Carnforth

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Originally published: 21st October 2019

Image by 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'.

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

Date: 3/30/2023 8:57:00 PM

Lovely, Gary, congratulations:)

Gary Radice
Date: 3/31/2023 12:14:00 AM

Thanks Joanna. Read you soon. Cheers - Gary

Speaks Volumes

Date: 3/30/2023 12:34:00 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
Date: 3/30/2023 1:23:00 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

Date: 3/15/2022 1:14:00 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
Date: 3/16/2022 2:33:00 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

Date: 2/7/2021 9:12:00 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
Date: 2/7/2021 1:27:00 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

Date: 11/20/2020 9:48:00 AM

Beautifully captured Gary! Linda

Gary Radice
Date: 11/20/2020 10:46:00 AM

Thanks so much Linda. I'm really glad you liked it. :) Cheers - Gary

Richard Morris

Date: 11/20/2020 9:41:00 AM

Nicely done.

Gary Radice
Date: 11/20/2020 10:44:00 AM

Thank you Richard. I appreciate your comment. Cheers - Gary

Line Gauthier

Date: 4/19/2020 9:47:00 PM

Interesting historical setting. A touching poem.

Gary Radice
Date: 6/15/2020 4:04:00 PM

Thank you Line! :)

Eric Cohen

Date: 3/27/2020 6:45:00 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
Date: 3/27/2020 1:12:00 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

Date: 1/24/2020 1:57:00 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
Date: 1/24/2020 3:23:00 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

Date: 1/24/2020 11:59:00 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
Date: 1/24/2020 12:55:00 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.

Hilo Poet

Date: 1/24/2020 11:47:00 AM

An amazing piece, Gary, worthy to have garnered its righteous placing -- a personal FAVE -- Aloha, William Kekaula

Gary Radice
Date: 1/24/2020 1:00:00 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 :)