GHOST TRAIN by Julia W. Prentice

A train that passes through my town, seldom seen but often heard, inspired this poem...

My life is revealed in the metaphor of the train with heavy cargo passing by. Often I speak of the past as it informs my present life and hopes for the future. Though the path is often dark, there is the light at the end of the tunnel I am always traveling toward.

Ghost Train

by Julia W. Prentice

I hear the ghost train whistle

Echoing through the past

Its lonesome wail encompasses

The heartfelt doom inside

Left overs from the shredded history

Known as my story, my undoing

See the indelible marks ride on

Stains of guilt and shame

For things both done and undone

Stains no bleach of regret removes

Marks unforgiving and of unforgiveness

So the train thunders on

Tracks are rusty from the tears

Fallen in the ashy dust of long ago…

Does the engine ever cease?

Cargo of loneliness and fear

Anxiety and deepest sadness

Carried on forever

Car by car they pass

My sight blurred by the wind

And burning remorse

Whence goes this train?

It travels in my soul.

Julia W. Prentice: A deeply feeling Cancer, Julia has been writing since her teenage years. She is the mother of three sons, has successful careers in teaching children, interpretation in sign language and assisting persons with mental health challenges to find their own paths to recovery. Living with her love and partner of over forty years has brought contentment and much fulfillment. She writes like she breathes: incessantly, some in ragged gasps, some in whispering sighs, some in mighty shouts. Always she is driven to write. Recently after taking a women’s online writing course she has heard the universe telling her to share her writings. You may find them on her blog "A Shooting Star" here.

~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~

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