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The Signal Box

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Originally published: 7th August 2020

Photo by gR

This poem was placed 1st in the "Standard 1212" contest sponsored by Brian Strand (Judged 25th May 2023)

As featured in The Poetry Soup Anthology "PS: It's Poetry"

when industry stood on this soil with chimneys that spewed sweat and toil the furnace fires relied on mines through arteries of railway lines. now looking back to charcoal skies through rosy mists of childhood eyes a line of trucks each filled with rocks crawled slowly past a signal box. the building formed a silhouette that framed a scene I wont forget: the dying of that worldly light was captured there in black and white. I'm standing now where true art stood: in a 'reinvented' neighbourhood where sleepers sleep beneath the grass where once those engines used to pass.

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Di11y Da11y

Date: 5/1/2023 1:19:00 PM

Congratulations on your win Gary

Gary Radice
Date: 5/2/2023 8:19:00 AM

Thank you. I've not had chance to read any of the others yet. I shall take a look later. Thanks again. Cheers - Gary

I Am Anaya

Date: 3/15/2023 1:43:00 PM

A nostalgic gritty write on the UK’s iconic steam trains. I read somewhere—the Royal Windsor Steam Express chugs across the River Thames from London to Windsor. Wild landscapes & old—oldest railway tunnels in the world! The soundtrack adds a dramatic feel of a black & white John Ford movie, smashing, Gary! ~Anaya

Gary Radice
Date: 3/15/2023 11:23:00 PM

Thanks so much Anaya. There's nothing like the smell and hissing of steam from a steam train. Add in a whistle there somewhere and I'm completely transported in my writing. :) Cheers - Gary

John Watt

Date: 6/4/2022 2:34:00 PM

Gary, I do love your train poems. With the steady cadence of a laden freight train you move the reader in a forward arc from past to future, from industrial factories to 'reinvented neighborhoods', from nostalgic childhood memories to present day reality. Some delights to my eyes and ears: "chimneys that spewed sweat and toil", "through rosy mists of childhood eyes", and "where sleepers sleep beneath the grass". Simply magnificent. You are one of my top poets, and this poem makes a sterling case for why that is. Warm regards ~ John

Gary Radice
Date: 6/5/2022 1:49:00 AM

Thanks John. Trains hold a particular fascination for me. It was August 1968 when the last UK steam train took its last journey..actually from Liverpool, my home town. The particular scene described above must date '65ish.. I just remember seeing it when going over a bridge somewhere in my parent's car. It's funny how images stay with us. Cheers - Gary

Brian Sambourne

Date: 11/16/2021 1:18:00 PM

So well expressed, Gary. You've placed the railroad creatively in the historical context of a burgeoning industrial landscape. Congratulations! Brian

Gary Radice
Date: 11/16/2021 1:47:00 PM

Thank you Brian. There is something so beautiful and romantic for me about steam and industry. Cheers - Gary

Christuraj Alex

Date: 11/16/2021 5:37:00 AM

Beautiful work. "where sleepers sleep beneath the grass" Congratulations!

Gary Radice
Date: 11/16/2021 7:27:00 AM

Hi Christuraj, thank you! The line you refer to actually wrote itself :) Cheers - Gary

Bj Legros Kelley

Date: 11/16/2021 2:42:00 AM

Congratulations Gary on your top placing win in my poetry contest. If I could give real trophies, you would get a gold for this masterpiece. I am in awe of this poem and have enjoyed reading it to others who all helped me to judge my contest, and every one of them were wowed by this perfect poem. I am honored that you submitted it to my contest! Again, congratulations!

Gary Radice
Date: 11/16/2021 7:26:00 AM

BJ, I'm blown away by your words - thank you so much to you and your fellow judges. I was an honour to have entered your contest. Judging by the entries that were placed I feel poetry was the winner. Thanks again! Cheers - Gary

Sarah Alexandra Morris

Date: 11/6/2021 4:10:00 AM

You have painted a picture with your words. A vivid, three dimensional picture. Even without the added sound I can hear and smell and see. Love this piece.

Gary Radice
Date: 11/6/2021 4:23:00 AM

Thanks Sarah. It ranks up there with my favourite poems that I've written. Cheers - Gary

Christopher Flaherty

Date: 11/17/2020 1:03:00 PM

Love this Gary All hail to progress

Gary Radice
Date: 11/18/2020 3:11:00 AM

I'll take a look over the next couple of days Christopher. Cheers

Christopher Flaherty
Date: 11/17/2020 2:31:00 PM

Made me or inspired me to write my own poem on this subject called Oh Dystopia paradise 4 a carpark. Maybe check it out if you get a chance please Gary Cheers ta

Christopher Flaherty
Date: 11/17/2020 2:20:00 PM

Yeah really do love it Gary. It struck me straight away . 1st off i thought or it evoked Peeky Blinders style imagery But most of all sleeping beneath where engine's used to pass. Dirty but honest graft. I would have loved to have seen the liverpool shipyards and docks in full flow bustling and bursting with life in there hey day it reminded me of that

Gary Radice
Date: 11/17/2020 1:20:00 PM

Glad you like it Christopher. It's actually one of my own favourite writes - love railways old and new. Cheers - Gary.

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 9/11/2020 6:38:00 AM

I can see why Brian chose this piece. Well done.

Gary Radice
Date: 9/11/2020 11:16:00 AM

Thank you Richard. I'm absolutely fascinated by trains and find them a great source for my poetry. :) Cheers - Gary

Geoffrey Brewer

Date: 8/30/2020 2:27:00 PM

Wonderful nostalgic images, skilfully presented. Having been brought up in the railway town of Swindon in the last days of steam and the old rural slow lines, it brings back many memories. The old signal boxes made an iconic unforgettable image in my mind. Thanks for the reminder

Gary Radice
Date: 8/30/2020 3:14:00 PM

Thanks for the kind comments Geoffrey. It's funny how that particular steam engine scene of only several seconds has stayed with me for all these years...and how now, years later, it's become a poem. Cheers - Gary

Charles Messina

Date: 8/12/2020 1:32:00 PM

I love this Gary. Great poetry my friend. Thanks for stopping by a while ago. I'll get my muse back and start writing again. Stay well.. Charlie

Gary Radice
Date: 8/12/2020 2:16:00 PM

Thank you Charlie. I find the theme of industry - and trains :) - a great source for poetry. I look forward to reading you again soon.

Brenda Chiri

Date: 8/8/2020 8:11:00 PM

Congrats on your win!:)

Gary Radice
Date: 8/9/2020 1:26:00 AM

Thanking you Brenda! I'm currently reading the list of poems from Brian's competition and am very happy to have been placed. Cheers - Gary

Sigrid Ermine

Date: 8/8/2020 5:19:00 PM

Succinct tribute to coal's close impact, and painful joyful departure. A flowing poem, - great work, Gary.

Gary Radice
Date: 8/9/2020 1:28:00 AM

Hello Sigrid! Thank you for stopping by, reading and leaving your lovely comments. I really appreciate it. Cheers - Gary