Jan Allison | + Follow Poet |
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Stranded

My long train journey late at night
I take this route each day,
With heavy eyes I gently doze
The engine chugs away.

Suddenly there is a judder,
the train’s brakes are applied.
Roof lights flicker; they slowly fade -
it’s now a scary ride!

My heart is pounding like a drum
I try to remain calm.
The engine driver’s message says
there’s no cause for alarm.

We’re stuck in the carriage for hours;
my cell phone gives us light.
Engineers work to fix the train
we’re stuck until midnight!

The main thing everyone is safe;
our journey was delayed.
I’d used my phone to call my mum
so her nerves were not frayed!

Stuck Contest
Sponsored by Sara Kendrick

Form Poulter’s Measure
8,6,8,6 checked with how many syllables.

09-23-17

Copyright © Jan Allison | Year Posted 2017

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Sandra Haight Date: 9/29/2017 10:49:00 AM I enjoyed your poem, Jan! Congratulation on your fine podium win. Hugs, Sandra Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 10/19/2017 11:56:00 AM Thanks Sandra:-) hugs jan xx

Jack Webster Date: 9/28/2017 3:02:00 PM Congratulations, Jan! Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/28/2017 3:07:00 PM Thanks Jack:-) hugs Jan xx

Sara Kendrick Date: 9/28/2017 8:36:00 AM I was delighted to see your work in my winners’ list..I enjoyed reading the work of an outstanding poet..Your participation was much appreciated..You wrote with very good flow, rhyme and rhythm..You stayed on topic..Love the picture of Thomas The Tank Engine..LOL,,Sara Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/28/2017 3:07:00 PM Thanks so much Sara:-) the Thomas the Tank picture took me back to my son's childhood but also there is a connection with our Island as our Bishop is known as the Bishop of Sodor and Man and Thomas is based on a fictional place called the island of Sodor:-) hugs Jan xx

James Inman Date: 9/28/2017 8:02:00 AM Nice of you to think of your mother but I'll bet your nerves would be a bit frayed if it actually happened to you. Well written Jan. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/28/2017 10:27:00 AM I have only ever had one fraught journey when i was about 20 and was in a carriage with a strange guy who obviously had a foot fetish and he wanted to touch my shoes - i got off at the next station it was a horrid experience!:-( hugs jan xx

Michael Tor Date: 9/27/2017 5:42:00 PM That happened to me going to California on an Amtrak train. I can relate Jan congratulations on your win. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/28/2017 10:25:00 AM Oh gosh Michael that must have been a fraught journey. i am glad my poem was just pure fiction:-) hugs jan xx

Constance La France Date: 9/27/2017 4:50:00 PM Jan, wonderful write, that would be so scary, congrats on your win ! Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/27/2017 4:56:00 PM Thanks Constance thankfully its just a fiction write for me:-) hugs Jan xx

Janice Canerdy Date: 9/27/2017 1:23:00 PM Good write, Jan. Congrats on your win. Janice Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/27/2017 4:55:00 PM Thanks Janice:-) hugs Jan xx

Dale Gregory Cozart Date: 9/27/2017 12:45:00 PM Congrats, Jan! Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/27/2017 4:54:00 PM Many thanks Dale:-) hugs Jan xx

Arthur Vaso Date: 9/24/2017 8:44:00 PM Very nice, a beautiful poem, but also one that could be read to children, I loved the photo you chose to go with it! Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/25/2017 10:53:00 AM Thanks so much for dropping by Arthur:-) Thomas the tank Engine has links to the IOM as our Bishop is known as the Bishop of Sodor and Man:-) hugs jan xx

Russell Sivey Date: 9/24/2017 9:06:00 AM I agree with Joyce that your third stanza is the best of all of them, it came together very nicely and flows awesome! You whole write is tremendous my friend! I really enjoyed reading every line of your lovely poem this morning! What a fabulous piece, Great Work!! Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/24/2017 9:10:00 AM Thanks so much for your Russell:-) it was quite a challenge to write as the rhyme and syllable count are quite restrictive and I personally like the third stanza the best. I may try and rework some of the other lines to flow better if I have time before the contest closes:-) hugs jan xx

Eve Roper Date: 9/23/2017 9:41:00 PM nicely done, Jan, I love the feel and the action you've given your poem. Luck in the contest. Hugs Eve ~`* Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/24/2017 3:07:00 AM Thanks so much Eve:-) hugs jan xx

Carole Duet Date: 9/23/2017 8:48:00 PM Don't you just "hate when that happens"? And, the hardest thing to do IMO is to wait, and wait and wait. Perfect descriptive poem of that very frustration. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/24/2017 3:06:00 AM Thankfully its pure fiction for me Carole:-) hugs jan xx

Susan Ashley Date: 9/23/2017 8:15:00 PM An awesome write Jan! Very realistic depiction even though your comment below says it's fiction. Great imagery. Good luck in the contest! :) Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/24/2017 3:06:00 AM Yes pure fiction for the contest. i would hate to be stuck in the dark and isolated for any lenght of time:-( hugs jan xx

Jean Murray Date: 9/23/2017 3:53:00 PM I thought it was going to turn Halloween scary Jan. Glad to see they all got home safe. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/24/2017 3:05:00 AM Just fiction for the contest jean:-) hugs jan xx

Lin Lane Date: 9/23/2017 2:02:00 PM and leave it to you to use a cartoon picture to write about a train wreck. lol Loved it. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/24/2017 3:04:00 AM Oh got to get a bit of Thomas the tank Engine in as it has a link to the IOM as our Bishop is known as the Bishop of Sodor and Man:-)It's said the books were inspired by our steam railway hugs Jan xx

Tim Smith Date: 9/23/2017 9:58:00 AM Great Jan...happy you weren't hurt Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/23/2017 12:51:00 PM Pure fiction for contest.. the pic took me back to my son's childhood he LOVED Thomas the tank Engine:-) We have no regular night trains here on the steam railway although they do special events where food is served... we had breakfast with friends earlier this year that was great fun!:-) hugs jan xx