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My Railway Lines: The Sidings

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Published: 25th November 2021

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

This poem was placed 1st in Line Gauthier's 'Bitesize Poem No. 27' Poetry Contest

The passing of time hides in plain sight and age creeps up on all of us.

one mile before the junction where the fast trains start to slow a stretch of track lies sleeping where the grass and brambles grow. it may have seen life's wheels of steam and tasted diesel too but now it leads to life's good sheds - then disappears from view.

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Brian Sambourne

Date: 1/23/2022 12:28:00 PM

Terrific poem, once more a homage to trains + the rails. Congratulations! Brian

Gary Radice
Date: 1/23/2022 12:47:00 PM

Thanks Brian. Yes, what's not to love about trains and railways? :) I really love them. The poem's (obscure) metaphors for old age catching up on us are - I think in hindsight now - perhaps a little too pessimistic in nature. I envisioned the goods sheds as nursing homes and the grass and brambles as symbols of ' sadly being forgotten'. As I hit 60 Im sure it's not all that bad. :) Cheers - Gary

Janice Canerdy

Date: 1/13/2022 4:59:00 PM

Great job, Gary. A huge CONGRATS on your top win. Janice

Gary Radice
Date: 1/14/2022 4:10:00 AM

Thank you Janice. Although I planned for 10 poems about trains, the positive comments I've received (like that of yours) has spurred me on and now I plan to write a few more. :) Cheers - Gary

Deb M.

Date: 1/8/2022 2:54:00 AM

Hey Gary….love this especially “sleeping where the grass and brambles grow” just a lovely line to me! Debx

Gary Radice
Date: 1/8/2022 9:24:00 AM

Thanks Deb. Travelling by train recently I've started to notice more and more those lines that are overun by weeds and the like. I find a certain beauty in them believe it or not. Perhaps we notice these things more when we slow down and get older? :) Thanks for your lovely comments. Cheers - Gary

JAN ALLISON

Date: 12/14/2021 5:05:00 PM

excellent ink Gary we are so lucky still have our steam railway on the Island, trams and the electric railway and when the prom is back we will have horse drawn trams:-) hugs Jan xx

Gary Radice
Date: 12/15/2021 2:24:00 AM

Hi Jan! Thanks for your visit and great comments. Yes, you are very lucky on the Isle of Man - I've only ever visited once and that was in winter. Cheers - Gary

Jo Daniel

Date: 11/29/2021 1:06:00 AM

Congratulations, Gary, enjoy your win:)

Gary Radice
Date: 11/29/2021 1:32:00 AM

Thank you Jo. I certainly will. It was a lovely surprise. :) Cheers - Gary

Janice Canerdy

Date: 11/28/2021 7:35:00 PM

Congrats on your well-deserved win, Gary. Janice

Gary Radice
Date: 11/29/2021 12:08:00 AM

Thanks Janice. I'll read the contest entries later today. Cheers - Gary

Krish Radhakrishna

Date: 11/28/2021 8:37:00 AM

I love your four liner! I have been in trains a lot and have a special love for them! Congrats on your win! You must go on and add more stanzas to this!

Gary Radice
Date: 11/28/2021 11:07:00 AM

Hi Krish! You and me with trains then :) ..I love them. I must admit that I was tempted to add lines to the poem (see my comment to Tom below) but Ive now decided to leave it just as it is with the 4 lines with the mantra 'more is less' Thank you for your valued comments. Cheers - Gary

Angela Tune

Date: 11/28/2021 8:22:00 AM

Fab! Congratulations x

Gary Radice
Date: 11/28/2021 10:59:00 AM

Thank you Angela - I appreciate your visit, read and lovely comments. The journals were bought at Etsy..Ill ask my wife the company name.. you can have your name put on them which is a nice touch. They've accompanied me through my PS journey. :) Cheers - Gary

Angela Tune
Date: 11/28/2021 8:24:00 AM

Oh and I like your journals with G on them, where are they from?

Tom Cunningham

Date: 11/28/2021 7:22:00 AM

Back with congratulations Gary. Tom

Gary Radice
Date: 11/28/2021 7:42:00 AM

Thanks Tom. That was a lovely surprise to be honest. Cheers - Gary

Tom Cunningham

Date: 11/25/2021 5:45:00 AM

You captured the scene well Gary, with the grass and brambles growing and the rusty wheels of the boxcars. Tom

Gary Radice
Date: 11/25/2021 11:10:00 AM

Tom..thanks so much for your visit and great comments. The second verse refers to the railway track rather a boxcar.. but..wow! ..I love your idea that it could be.. and I'm thinking that once Line's Contest is over I may change / add another verse to fit your idea..which has wheels and which I really like.. :) Cheers - Gary