Amtrak Poems | Examples

Can you hear me now?

Amtrak with equipment’s endowed
Each car comes with stainless steel shroud
Yet my quiet ride
Was sadly denied
By announcement volumes too loud

Inside The Mirage

Is the distinction between
science and philosophy
nothing but
 illusion
Affirming what it wouldst 
certainly and firmly most deny
Proponents of formulaic truth
require a defense against critique
judgment unrelenting
as their proof is self-inured 
Science thus infallible
because its findings are collective
Their community not disposed
to answer
questions they will
— never ask

(Amtrak R5- February, 2025)

How I Look

I see how I look inside out,
not how I look outside in.
My Amtrak races between mountains 
and rivers, my traces, my inner spaces,
my dawnings, my inner longings.

I see how I look inside out,
not how I look outside in.
I leaf through fading pages
of crumbling books bound
with passion strings,
broken by wounded fissures
of regret. 

I see how I look inside out,
not how I look outside in.
Others declare me a man or fool,
perhaps the father they never knew,
perhaps the boss who fired them,
or just the impostor they always hated.

I see how I look inside out,
not how I look outside in.
I slowly abandon their puzzling 
projectiles, their momentary mocks.
Such a child am I, even the petals
of new love go unseen.

I see how I look inside out,
not how I look outside in.
I take the long way alone,
my feet heavy with clay,
I wander the deep gloam,
my mortal vessel, my only home.
There is luminous grass beyond.
There I will rest my head in 
the resplendence and comprehend
that inside and outside 
                      are just a revolving door.

Travel

seeing the
backyards of America
AMTRAK

Bound

…on an Amtrak train.  
Business-class from DC to Trenton. 
It's the work rush.

There is a white man.  
Dark eyes. 
Gray temples…
Southern.  

Loud.  

Acting important. Unimportant.

Let's call him John.  

...5 rows behind him something I see something standing.
A flicker?

He's been on his cell phone since he boarded.  

He's talking loud, in a rush, fear in the undercurrent of this voice.
An unnoticed waver…as if he's in his home office.

Knowing but without knowing …
His eyes roam. Nervous.

It's toxic and spreading…
Everyone else on the train “seems”…
Unbothered.  
Unscathed.
Unnoticed. 

Everyone sees but does not!

You can feel the tension…it!
It is sharp like a razor. 
Everyone is secretly annoyed. Scared?

There standing a shadow even in the light! A figure? 
...white eyeless sockets, staring. 
The shadowy thing begins moving, gliding…  
To him!
Around him…

People are avoiding it, 
something, 
unknown, 
unseen!    

Without understanding. Blind! 

He writes down a number.
       
…stands up and looks around frantically. Moving…

People pass... 

        Him. It.

                  Into twilight BOUND!

The Woman Who Raised Me 'Hlm'

riding in Amtrak
southbound to San Diego
viewing scenic coast

Be with my Mommy sometimes on weekend.
The time for the two of us, when we tend
to act like silly girls.
Dancing, doing some twirls
while singing karaoke songs we shared.

she has been gone for years; but our times together live on, I miss her.


1/22/22    Charlie Hai-Lim-Ku Poetry
                Charles Messina

Used:        How Many Syllables  (5/7/5 - 10/10/6/6/10 - 17)                
                RhymeZone

Telltale Signs

Spacetime but emergent,
the string on nature’s kite

Reeling in a looming giant
—beyond both day and night

(Amtrak R5: July, 2021)

Twilight Passes

Night often falls
with the matter unsettled

The pudding unstirred
—as choices recant

(Amtrak R5: June, 2021)

Cartesian Whim

Altering the future
confirms your existence

In for a penny
—out for a pound

(Amtrak R5: June, 2021)

Post Mortem

-Only a Poet-
is envious of the dead

(Amtrak R5: June, 2021)

Grand Theft Glory

Everyone is brave
inside the café
Tall glasses of courage,
fear toasting itself
The sound of the motors,
the drape of the muleta
A court full of jesters
—reliving the lie

(Amtrak To 30th Street: May, 2021)

Amtrak Joe We Would Know

President called Amtrak Joe.
Amtrak 50th anniversary.

Party they did throw
Which would be for Amtrak Joe
To Capital go.

what they did deplore
Those who Way too Early ignore
Called her a big bore

did have dignity
Way Too Early want to see
Go on shopping spree

when we saw new dawn
we turned Way too Early on
pretty soon had gone

a pretty scene of shore
Saw Way Too Early more and more
When we heard waves roar

Amtrak

Amtrak was his ride of choice
For oh, so many years
But Biden can’t ride Amtrak now
Because of growing fears.

I read he’d planned to take the train
Before his swearing-in.
That plan was scratched, though, just in case
Disruptions might begin. 

For who knows what the whackos plan
To fire up their cause?
Apparently they’re not deterred
By conscience, fear or laws.

So somehow Biden will arrive
In total secrecy
While, fingers crossed, we watch
The ceremony in D.C.

Addicted To Footles

Black beard
Was feared. 

Kim Jong
Heads wrong. 

Home grown
Trump clone. 

Fat boy
Food joy. 

Sun baked
Nose caked. 

Fresh bread
Well fed. 

Aged scotch
Top notch.

Amtrak
Rail track.

Choc ice 
Tastes nice. 

War room
More gloom. 

Stay cool
In pool. 

Jail spell
Sheer hell. 

Dark nights
Street lights.

Fab four 
No more. 

Flatline
Bad sign. 


Written 16th September 2020.

Traveling Train Ride Views- -

I travel the vastness comes present spring 
by wayward locomotive Amtrak train 

misty trickle-down mist from the heavens views
traveling looking out window glued view

raging loud thunderous sounds Swish a blur.......
sights nature viewed combined manna tree waving

birds flying cryptic views landscapes colors 
beautiful abundance rainbow shines bright 

plentiful skies landscape horizon plain
quickly pastel colors flash bountiful

these are the pictures view so casual
scenes from the train's windows my traveling 
train ride View


4/16/20
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr  2020

• Short Amtrak Poems
• Famous Amtrak Poems
• Best Amtrak Poems
• Read Amtrak Poems
• Long Amtrak Poems
• Amtrak Quotes