The Freight Train

Countrymen! Sleep! There's no train here
Condemned as we are, who to fear?

Consider crushed stones the rose bed,
Tracks are soft pillows, place your head.

Haven't we had many thorns in life?
Have we failed to face any strife?

Like peaceful children, hence, they slept,
Although their souls within them wept.

Wherefrom, like fate, that train appear?
Our deadly tired bodies to tear!

That our so far held breaths to take,
And out of us mere corpses to make!

We know they'll now investigate,
Brain from reasons to separate!

'O poor dear countrymen!' they'll say,
'Yet why did you choose the train's way?'

Thus ends, lo, our life-long labor,
A prey to a lifeless monster!


“At least 16 migrant laborers were killed early on Friday after a cargo train ran over them in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district”

30 May 2021
ALL YOURS (May 29) Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Brian Strand
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Carber Avatar
June 1, 2021 at 7:44 AM
Congrats on your win--you caught well the irony and sadness....
Alex Avatar
June 1, 2021 at 8:00 AM
Thank you very much.
Buhagiar Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 9:53 PM
Beautiful poem. Pity people had to die.
Alex Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 10:20 PM
Thank you very much.
Leiser Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 2:21 PM
Very powerful poem and gives us pause to reflect on this tragedy..well written!
Alex Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 10:19 PM
Thank you very much.
Kauffman Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 2:15 PM
Congratulations Christuraj! Thank you for sharing this horrible accident and remembering those nameless, often faceless, victims. So important that poetry recognizes events such as this - congratulations! Blessings to you and your creative muse!
Alex Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 10:18 PM
Thank you very much.
Mcintosh Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 1:50 PM
Wow. Powerful writing. Congrats and God bless you. Love, Gina
Alex Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 10:16 PM
Thank you very much.
Poet Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 12:00 PM
Individuals who died as a result of this catastrophe deserve special consideration. Well done Alex
Alex Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 12:03 PM
Thank you very much.
Cunningham Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 10:14 AM
What a terrible tragedy Christuraj, you captured it well in your verse. Tom
Alex Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 12:04 PM
Thank you very much.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace