By Don Iannone
In the eery far off distance,
I hear the train whistle blowin'.
And by its sound,
I know it's comin' for me.
I didn't think it was my time,
but if not mine...whose time?
Nothin' more hauntin'
than a freight train's whistle...
blowin' all alone, late at night.
I just hope this one night...
the train don't stop in Wheelin'.
And I pray it ain't comin' for me.
My heart stopped and started
all throughout the long pitch black of the night.
As I sleep totally all alone,
the train keeps on comin'...
I just hope and pray
it don't stop for me tonight.
Note: This one comes from my childhood.
Superstitious folks believed if someone was
very sick and they were awakened by a train
whistle, it meant they were going to die.
19 comments:
I guess the Laughing Ghost didnt stop by then not this time. :o)
Good imagination. Definately could feel this and see it. Thank you for sharing.
I love it! I can hear trains at night here -- you're right, it's a haunting sound.
Simply loved it! I liked the phantasmic effect of it.
Truly. Eery.
Wow Don! That speaks the mind of an old person...ready to face death anytime...the train gets 'em all! Also gets all the guilty ones. Reminds me of Ruskin Bond's story: "Tiger in the tunnel". Have you read that one? ~ Kranti (http://krantidugar.blogspot.com/)
Thanks Trinitystar, Andrew, Gautami, Borut, and Kranti.
I made some changes to this one since you all read it. I like it better with the changes and the added note.
Never heard that, but, train whistles late at night are pretty eerie. Good one Don!!
Thanks Gloria and Pat.
Gloria...train whistles also intrigued me as a young boy. Hope you are well.
She thinks she has heard this superstition before, from where she is not sure.
I really like this one Don!
Thank you!
Margie
Yeah... good one, Don. I dealt with that train by hanging from the trestle. But then there was that witch in her hat outside the bedroom window... until I realized it was the top of a pine tree...
Its amazing, the pace of the poem matches that of a moving train. Also thanks for explanation at the end of the poem - how fascinating!
Thanks Liz...had not intended that effect, but glad it was there. And Dan...I have such memories too. And Margie and Trinitystar thanks for your comments. Everyone is so supportive of my humble poetry. I am thankful!
this is a good one, reminds me of the Long Black Train, song by Josh Turner.
Scary childhood memories!
Yes, slow train comin'.
haunting poem, but i love it! great stuff, and thank you for the note.
Yeah, Don. This would make some great lyrics for a blues song!
Thanks Polona, Imemine, Jel, and Dan.
Dan...I was thinking lyrics too. Interesting.
Thanks gel. Superstitions still abound. My, oh my...the things we believe.
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