The Train

Riding along through the night in the dark
Reading, digesting, with the train driving on
Speeding through fields and trees in the cold country and
Into the warmth of the welcoming town.

Faster she goes as the view becomes spartan
Down between hills and on to the flat again,
Careering on Southward, to the mouth of the river,
Trees again, undergrowth, on through the thicket.

Suddenly darker, warmer and wet,
Sliding round softly, pushing on deeper
Out again, air again, breathing now softly
Taking in air before into the marsh again.

Landscape pulling itself past the still train now
Earth spinning round pushing them where they want to go
Slowing now having arrived where they want to be
And stopping, in the station, hot under the clouds.