L Milton Hankins | + Follow Poet |
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The Dispatcher

Foggy mists slither through the highlands
As downdrafts force them to the riverbanks
To the naked eye ethereal warm icicles
Among tow’ring long-needle pines piercing sky
From the other side near the rustic cabin
The yawning night watchman waits the 7:30
Preparing to hand off the latest dispatches in
A leather satchel, the hook catching its strap
The silent river valley comes alive screeching
Then wanes to deadly silence, the fog lifting
As he prepares to hand over to the day shift
Driving the winding road home, sleepy-eyed

written October 29, 2021

Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2021

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Gershon Wolf Date: 10/30/2021 8:41:00 PM This is a stirring portrait, Milt. 'Ordinary people' doing most extraordinary things! True heroes, as are you for penning this so well. Right into my FAVES. Bravo, Gershon Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/30/2021 8:59:00 PM Thanks so much, Gershon. Wow, I'm glad you really enjoyed it.

Caren Krutsinger Date: 10/30/2021 3:23:00 PM This is a slice of life I no longer feel that I have missed. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/30/2021 6:43:00 PM Ah thanks, Caren. It was a most memorable experience for me as a teenager.

Delice Arleen Skelly Date: 10/30/2021 3:00:00 AM Very descriptive read, nicely done...Delice Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/30/2021 10:11:00 AM Thanks, Delice. I hope you could hear the train screeching past and the sudden stillness after it moved on. It was such an experience for me as a teenager.

Shirley Hawkins Date: 10/29/2021 8:51:00 PM Another beauty... Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/29/2021 8:53:00 PM Thank you so much, Shirley. This poem grew out of a night spent along the tracks in the river valley. The dispatcher was our youth leader at church. I'll always savor the memory.

Tom Cunningham Date: 10/29/2021 11:31:00 AM Loved your nostalgic write Milton and your stunning imagery. Tom Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/29/2021 11:52:00 AM Thanks, Tom. The dispatcher was the leader of our church group when I was a teenager. He took me to work with him one night, and it was an unforgetable experience. I think that is the genesis of this poem.

Sam Kauffman Date: 10/29/2021 11:10:00 AM Milt, this is so vividly descriptive. Your impactful images tell the story. I enjoyed this very much. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/29/2021 11:53:00 AM Sam, I could picture this so easily in my mind from a boyhood experience. Thanks for your thoughts.