Notes About The Poem

Published: 13th October 2023

Image: gR

"Carpe Diem"


The Railway Lines

how many of you 
wonder how
you find yourself 
where you are now
on some fast train
that's shooting by
the world outside
and don't know why
and wishing as
it takes the bend
before it reaches
journey's end
that it would stop
to let you breathe
and disembark
then watch it leave
so you could turn
and walk right back
to all those stations
on your track
and find those places
on your list
that life's timetable
somehow missed
then walk those junctions 
where you spent
time deciding 
ways you went
and pull a lever
switching lines
to one that points
to better times
where crossing gates
unlike back then
now open to 
free dreams again
and help put right
those signal fails
you blamed when life
came off the rails?

each day we grow
we come to learn
time's just one way
with no return 
but though we can't
change all before
we get to know
life's journey more
and had you changed
the way you are
your train may not
have got this far
for each dark tunnel
lived each day
led out to light
here anyway
and while those platforms
from your past
might well explain
your travelling fast
remember too
that grass unseen
grows right here now
and just as green
where taking time
might help you plan
a slower route
whereby you can
move to a seat
to change your view
and learn to love
yourself as you
appreciating
all you see
before Grand Central's
destiny
while knowing hope
faith luck and care
helped drive that train
to get you there.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

Poem

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Marc Avatar
May 30, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Quick, flowing lines that land deeper than they first appear. Grateful for the journey!
Radice Avatar
May 30, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Thanks for being on board P.M. Cheers - Gary
Springer Avatar
May 21, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Good poem. I like the structure, the rhyme, the analogy to life's journey. Your poems are a discovery.
Radice Avatar
May 21, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Thanks Mark. Much appreciated. Cheers - Gary
Fowler Avatar
June 15, 2024 at 4:14 PM
Wonderful journey Gary. A journey with a lesson. :)
Radice Avatar
June 16, 2024 at 2:40 AM
Thanks so much Linda for stopping off and leaving such lovely comments. Cheers - Gary
Legros Kelley Avatar
February 28, 2024 at 1:22 AM
Wow Gary, this is INCREDIBLE. A fave for me. I am in awe of this poem.
Radice Avatar
February 28, 2024 at 2:33 AM
Thanks so much Bj! It’s gone through several changes in its time but I’m happy with this version. Cheers - Gary
Greenhough Avatar
January 18, 2024 at 9:19 AM
I appreciate this spiritual poem. Always check the destination, or a passenger may go the opposite direction. Thanks for this poem.
Radice Avatar
January 18, 2024 at 10:16 AM
Thank you Hilda. I appreciate your visit, read and comments. Cheers - Gary
Hargreaves Avatar
December 20, 2023 at 11:50 AM
This sets off more railway memories. I remember the bang of the track detonators used as signalling when the pea-soup fog descended. Train drivers could not see signals but listened for warning sounds of detonators. Sad to learn that Blackpool trams now silent. Tony
Radice Avatar
December 21, 2023 at 1:37 AM
I was born in '61 and the things that I remember from the trains of my childhood are (for some strange reason known only to my memory) the words No Smoking enclosed in a triangle on the windows, the ability to stick my head out of the top sliding window in a carriage (and then a little later seeing two arrows that denoted how far windows could be opened) and the almost domestic looking lightbulbs in the carriages. Today sitting on a train feels no different to sitting on a bus or plane. Progress - Shmogress. Cheers - Gary
Norton Avatar
December 17, 2023 at 1:18 AM
Sensational, sensational, a wonderful poem, in every respect. A poem to read and read again, and savor your wit and wisdom and wonderful way with words and rhyme. Thank you thank you, Bryan. Glad to call you a friend.
Radice Avatar
December 17, 2023 at 5:14 AM
Thanks so much Bryan. Rhyme will always rule for me. :) Just reading it through again now I remember one of the themes of the poem that I had in mind when writing it was "taking back control of one's life". Not easy. Life has got too quick for my liking. All the best! Cheers - Gary
Deschler Avatar
November 4, 2023 at 12:01 PM
An excellent poem, filled with wisdom. And, with great rhythm and rhyme throughout... So well done, Gary :)
Radice Avatar
November 5, 2023 at 12:57 AM
Many thanks Kelly. I plan at some stage to add some extra lines in memory of those loved ones who planned to take the journey with us but sadly got off the train along the way for whatever reason. Thanks again for your great comments. Cheers - Gary
Faulkner Avatar
November 1, 2023 at 12:30 PM
I like how this feels like the roll of the train as it passes from station to station, also love the 'grass unseen/just as green' segment, I do like the slower routes sometimes to just take in all the views you miss when going too fast~
Radice Avatar
November 2, 2023 at 1:21 AM
Thanks for your valued visit Michelle. The older I get the more I want the world to slow down but the trains just keep getting faster. :) Cheers - Gary
Gwaltney Bales Avatar
October 25, 2023 at 2:50 PM
Love this poem, Gary. I can so relate to the "what ifs" it brings to mind. How many times I have speculated, imagined alternate existences. Perhaps we all do. Very nice work! Ellen
Radice Avatar
October 26, 2023 at 11:25 AM
Thanks Ellen for your valued thoughts.. I'm sure we all think 'what if?' at some time. The landscape changes depending on the route we're on and the train just keeps on moving. :) Cheers - Gary
Fisher Avatar
October 24, 2023 at 5:22 PM
Awesome poem, enjoyed! Love the short lines, it works well with the story; it keeps it rolling like a train.
Radice Avatar
October 25, 2023 at 12:22 PM
Thanks David! Your kind and encouraging comments are very much appreciated. Cheers - Gary
Buehler Avatar
October 24, 2023 at 11:45 AM
I could practically feel time's passage on this train, trailing memories. An outstanding poem, Gary. :) Evelyn
Radice Avatar
October 24, 2023 at 2:19 PM
Thanks Evelyn for your lovely comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the ride. Cheers - Gary
Meadows Avatar
October 23, 2023 at 12:55 AM
A brilliant poem and description!! Enjoyed reading this. Well done.
Radice Avatar
October 23, 2023 at 6:56 AM
Thanks Jeanette. I appreciate your visit, read and valued comments. Cheers - Gary
Lamoureux Avatar
October 19, 2023 at 7:59 AM
I enjoyed this nostalgic write. Your skills are on full display with this gem. You are a good story teller. Have a wonderful day.
Radice Avatar
October 19, 2023 at 11:12 PM
Thank you Richard. I like telling stories but don't always know how they are going to end. A bit like life's train journey I suppose. :) I'm happy you enjoyed the read, thanks again. Cheers - Gary
Ray Avatar
October 17, 2023 at 10:38 PM
i do love this walk along the tracks, i hear the trains on a daily basis....once in a while i am caught in traffic waiting....but the real treasure here permeates the line by line of life's analogy and the pauses in cognitive acuity and common sense so absent in the crowded traffic life runs us through....excellent execution Gary
Radice Avatar
October 18, 2023 at 3:39 AM
Thanks Timothy for your valued comments. When it comes to life and my poetry I love looking back down the lines to where the tracks and stanchions fuse in the ripple of the sun. Cheers - Gary
Callus Avatar
October 16, 2023 at 2:37 PM
This journey of ours is never a straightforward one...perhaps with hindsight we realize how many things we missed out on; how life would have been if we were offered another chance, even if eventually we are destined to reach the end. Alas, time is never on our side! Thanks for the free ride, Gary. * Regards // paul
Radice Avatar
October 17, 2023 at 4:26 AM
I often wonder what would have happened if so many of those trains I had hoped to catch had not been delayed or cancelled - or indeed, if they had they been delayed or cancelled :) Would I be me now? :) Thanks for your first class comments Paul. :) Cheers - Gary
Flaherty Avatar
October 15, 2023 at 5:31 PM
Gary Sir Your end Thee end That Train we are all on Will get us there And that is where you ended And left us all Brilliant succinct challenging Engaging Up to each and every one of us your reader To answer this question for ourselves In the end Isn't it a true metaphor for life itself Not HS2 obviously Sir
Flaherty Avatar
October 16, 2023 at 12:02 PM
Selling it off to indeed Gary Sir And at what profit exactly. Procured for less than market value Sold for market value plus , plus , plus Tax Free I one would presume Great relevant musings of modern day reality social commentary RESPONSIBILITY Us not Them
Radice Avatar
October 16, 2023 at 1:20 AM
Thanks Christopher for your great comments. Yes, a train journey as a metaphor for the life's journey each of us take was always at the back of my mind when I wrote this. When it comes to taking responsibility for ourselves in life it leaves me wondering about those people who dreamed up, spent mi££ions and then scrapped HS2...and I wonder who they are selling off the land to now that it's no longer going ahead?? Cheers - Gary
Ashley Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 11:03 AM
Dear Gary, your poetic pen is wistful, insightful, optimistic and ingenious! A deep rich and fulfilling piece. The quick pace of your poem so eloquently resembles the quick passing of time. A superb and intricate rhyme! Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Radice Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 1:06 PM
Thank you Susan. I had in mind when writing this the poem 'From A Railway Carriage' by Robert Louis Stevenson just for its musicality and pacing. :) Cheers - Gary
Flood Avatar
October 13, 2023 at 3:21 PM
A marvellous revision that astonishingly makes your original even better. Really like the way you break your lines to emphasise the rhythm and flow of many of your writes, Gary.
Radice Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 7:14 AM
Thanks Terry. I chose this poem as the original poem was the one that took me the longest to put together and I still felt it needed changes. I saw it as a challenge. I was still changing a few lines this morning (no railway pun intended) and will probably change the title sometime in the future too to The Railway Lines just to distinguish it from my first effort from two years ago. And now I'm beginning to sound a tad pretentious. I'll be wearing a floppy hat and a scarf next. Poetry eh? Don't ya just love it? :) Cheers - Gary
Lane Avatar
October 13, 2023 at 6:26 AM
Each day we make decisions, certainly not all are the ones we should make, but none of them can we change. It's living with the rewards or consequences of our choices that determine where we stop, where we get off the train, or if we keep riding, allowing destiny to decide. I don't believe in pre-determined fate, so any 'what if' thoughts that come to mind... they're on me. Well composed, Gary.
Lane Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 7:09 AM
Hi Gary. I’m smiling at your comment. I didn’t go blonde. It’s more like gray. I’ll read it again and thanks for paying attention to my words and my hair. ;-)
Radice Avatar
October 14, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Lin, you have gone all blonde on me - I'm sure you had dark hair last time I saw your picture. :) I digress. Thanks so much for your visit and comments. Since your visit I've revised the ending of the poem again - I wanted to include the word you used: "destiny" somewhere in my text. So I did. Thank you :) Like yourself, I don't personally agree in pre-determined fate but I like the idea of putting things in place that might help towards achieving whatever it is you wish to achieve in life. Thanks again. Cheers - Gary
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