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Gary Radice | + Follow Poet |
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Railway Child

Listen to poem:

if the pathways and parklands
of my childhood could talk
they would speak of time crawling
before it could walk.

and when clouds hung like mobiles
on strings from the sky
I would run with my arms out
pretending to fly.

I would 'land' near the steep bank
that looked down on the track
to watch trains pass there daily
before then heading back.

in that long, lost, hot summer
when I never knew time
I would scan the horizon
through the haze on the line.

the dots that grew bigger
would soon thunder past
 - they were moments I lived for
that flew by so fast.

but as clouds clouded over
that magic had gone
and as the last train rolled past me
I sensed time had moved on.

Copyright © Gary Radice | Year Posted 2021

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Susan Ashley Date: 8/15/2025 8:14:00 AM Dear Gary, your rhythm and rhymes are wonderful, and your imagery is exceptional; atmospheric, nostalgic, endearing and multi-layered with tenderness. I was especially struck by "when clouds hung like mobiles/on strings from the sky" which infuses the piece with childhood innocence, then, as "the last train rolled past me/I sensed time had moved on." grows the poem to a wistful adult perspective. Love it! Congratulations for your success in Mark's contest. Warmest wishes. my poet friend.. ~Susan -p.s. your opening lines are stunning "if the pathways and parklands/of my childhood could talk" - wow!! :) Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 8/15/2025 11:21:00 PM Thanks Susan! A somewhat modified version of Henry Twells' poem 'Times Paces' (1901) can be found on the clock at Chester Cathedral UK. It reads:: "When as a child I laughed and wept, - Time crept. When as a youth I dreamed and talked, - Time walked. When I became a full grown man, - Time ran. And later as I older grew - - Time flew. Soon I shall find when travelling on, - Time gone. Will Christ have saved my soul by then? - Amen." It's this (prayer?) version (oh, and the film 'The Railway Children'') that helped inspire my own poem here :) Cheers - Gary

CayCay Jennings Date: 8/13/2025 5:39:00 PM To me, this is an outstanding delivery of 'feel' with lines of poetic brevity which, to me, is an impressive accomplishment. It isn't easy to impactfully convey tone / flavor this well as concisely as you did. Congratulations, your poem deserves such a high placement. Poetry hugs ... CayCay Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 8/14/2025 6:03:00 AM Thank you Cay Cay for your very kind comments. They are much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

Mark Toney Date: 8/13/2025 10:21:00 AM Gary, love the transition from the first stanza of “time crawling before it could walk” to the last stanza “I sensed time had moved on.” Of course, who doesn’t love trains. :) Congratulations on your third-place finish on Mile 6 of my 2025 Poetry Marathon Contest. Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 7 has already started. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 8/13/2025 11:52:00 AM Thank you Mark. I truly appreciate the amount of time and work you are putting into the poetry marathon. Cheers - Gary

Rowena Velasco Date: 8/13/2025 10:18:00 AM Love the way this takes you straight back to childhood—running, flying, and watching trains, all while time seems to stretch forever. Very sweet and nostalgic! CONGRATULATIONS! Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 8/13/2025 11:34:00 AM Rowena, thank you. The inspiration for this poem (other than the film Railway Children) was a poem by Henry Twells "Times Paces" which has been a favourite of mine since childhood. It is inscribed on an old clock case in Chester Cathedral UK and describes the feeling that time appears to speed up as we grow older. :) Cheers - Gary

Brian Strand Date: 9/24/2021 1:30:00 AM I did a lot of this,Gary,noting the numbers..and once a day the Master Cutler..our LNER line connected with Sheffield then(which it could again if HMG dropped its vanity project of HS2) Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 9/24/2021 5:47:00 AM HS2..now there's an anthology in itself. I've two more railway poems to write to make up the 10 and your comments have prompted me to have another go at one I wrote last year but pulled it on account of me not liking it much. :) Cheers - Gary

David Walker Date: 7/3/2021 8:20:00 AM Gary, beautifully done..I like this one a lot. You have such a good following Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 7/3/2021 8:47:00 AM Thank you David - that means a lot. I'm available on Soupmail if ever you agree to the collaboration. Cheers - Gary

Greg Gaul Date: 5/13/2021 10:52:00 AM Gary, this is a fav for me. Your meter and patience is masterful. Pacing the read is what great writers do. Like a sage reciting some mythic tale. The pacing and rhyme has such an unforced and friendly flow. And then you cap it off with that poignant last line. This, of all your works, has a legendary aspect. You should be proud. This is top drawer, regardless of how it placed here. Remember this comment Gary. This bell cannot be unrung. Now, go write something great. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 5/13/2021 12:01:00 PM Greg, what can I say? i am absolutely blown away by your wonderful comments. I feel honoured by them. Thank you! I must admit that I did spend some time writing this and still might (might) adjust the last couple of lines very slightly as I don't feel the flow is quite right. I'll sleep on it and have a fresh look tomorrow. :) Thanks for the fav and thanks again. Cheers - Gary

Gordon Mcconnell Date: 5/12/2021 1:31:00 PM really fine pen Gary telling this so well, steam trains were a real attraction in our childhood days. Take care, Gordon Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 5/12/2021 1:40:00 PM Hi Gordon. Hope all's well North of the Border. I didn't get to see many steam trains as a child but the very few that I did left their mark in my heart. Whenever I can I love to ride the heritage steam train routes that are dotted around our country and one day would love to ride the Fort William to Mallaig steam train. Cheers - Gary

Brian Strand Date: 5/12/2021 9:42:00 AM Gary,Did you collect the numbers..& ..were they steam or disel? We did something similar (scrumping over hanging branches whilst we waited) but you have encapsulate the memory very wistfully,hence my selection in contest 973 Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 5/12/2021 11:02:00 AM I was born in 61 and remember seeing a couple of steam trains going through a local station. I used to love the look and noise of the diesel trains. Still do. Gary Radice Date: 5/12/2021 9:49:00 AM Brian, in another chiildhood I would have collected every number to every engine - but I didn't. It's a fictional account of my ideal childhood inspired by the film "The Railway Children" and the poem Time's Paces by Henry Twells. Thank you for the placing and wonderful comments. Cheers - Gary

Regina Mcintosh Date: 5/12/2021 6:57:00 AM Love this :) A wonderful write. God Bless you, love, Gina Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 5/12/2021 8:22:00 AM Thank you Gina. It needs neatening up a bit around the edges but I'm nearly there. Cheers - Gary