Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Riding Rails

Jumping cars and riding rails
down a track or two…or three
All beginning, on the
metaphorical farm, of life - or
perhaps, just within me.

Baggy pants, thoughts and tramps
Graveled throat and dust
A campfire, spirits,
freedom roads and lust.

Beans and Billycans,
Flowers for the man
Standing on a soapbox
On my corner of the world
Doing what I can.

Switching tracks, crossroads
No turning back
Riding rails, with parent’s dreams
like cold steel, pressed against my back.

Now here I sit,
Riding rails, grey hair on head
Parents long gone, both dead
Sitting back remembering,
What each one had said.

Funny thing,
being out there on my own
All I wanted to do,
Was turn around, and take the first track
All the way, back home.

Nonetheless, I forged ahead
Freedom of the metaphorical rails
Taking Life’s tracks instead.

But with all that said,
I made my way,
despite my rights and wrongs.
I rode those rails, sang those songs
And fell in love, along the way
With life, and just the way it is.

12 comments:

  1. Your words paint a portrait that is even more vivid than one a camera could produce. Wonderful piece. Thank you!

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  2. Wow! You transport the reader to this place.......excellent!

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  3. The balance of tension, between seeking adventure and feeling homesick, colors the images with emotion. Excellent poem!

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  4. how similar our poetic philosophies. and how much I enjoyed the read, a vision only age and experience can bring

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  5. I love the rhythm and internal rhymes - this is a very well crafted piece.

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  6. ah you capture my own heart well with your words...nice one shot

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  7. Again David, you just capture my heart here. i love how your lines make me feel, almost in the place of the happening. so powerful and poignant!
    great write :)

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  8. At first I had rough visions of the movie "Emperor of The North" (a.k.a. "The Emperor of The North Pole" - Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine - great movie!)

    But in later lines it mellowed into a soothing ride.

    Nice One Shot, David!

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  9. Love the feeling that you have taken us back in time. A simpler time still wrought with seeking for the answers but they were within reach by riding the rails.

    Always a joy to read your work
    Also always grateful for your sharing with others at One Shot

    Moonie smiles

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  10. Retired military yearning for the freedom of the road. I can understand this. A fine One Shot.

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  11. Solid "gentlemen of the road" work. :)

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