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| foggy Hudson River and Catskill Mountains from the train |
(1) The First Leg
after
Trenton we speed up
past
school-bus orange road graters
arms
raised to show their muscles
oddly
idle 45 minutes south of the Big Apple
duplicate
houses and lumber
yards
and electric grids
spindly
trees, young and growing
or
old and depleted shield
towns
from transport
more
tools of roads and tracks
unmanned
though muscular stand
(train
windows as their best audience)
an
army ready to advance their lines
wherever
and whenever ordered
(2)
The Second Leg
scenic
Hudson River, water in coach
and
in the sea-wide shore-less bed
humble
majesty, coast guard defense
lighthouses
crouched so long amid
rocks
and rising waves of water
that
people forget they are military,
window
shoppers lift up their eyes
Palisades,
Storm King and Hunter
slopes,
ski trails and forests hugging
thruways
and muffled traffic as swift
as
the Hudson's channels, much faster
then
tugboats and laden barges
(3)
The Body
Full
spring and its flood levels
whistle
hoo-hoo signaling
Hudson
depot where white and
purple
lilacs garland and scent
where
an elderly man sits small
with
pipe, newspaper and baseball
cap
on a shaded bench until
he
sees conductor lifting down
a
familiar suitcase and his daughter
until
he takes her bag and hugs
she
shushes her brain buzz
until
she finds paper and pen
alone
after dinner, after smiles,
tales
and lots of family loving
she returns season in and out
she returns season in and out
measuring her changes against
unchanging tracks, repeated
greetings, gestures, arguments
only a little more wear
only a little more weary
only a little more silent
| Train station, Hudson, NY, USA. Supposedly oldest station in New York in continuous use; photo by Daniel Case. |
Copyright © 2013 S.L.Chast
A great ride and a wonderful write, Susan.....I so resonate with the final stanza....only a little more weary......a LOT, in my case!
ReplyDeletenice...the last stanza def defines the rest of the journey for me...measuring her changes against the unchanging tracks...and with family and friends...and def over time gets a bit more weary....
ReplyDeleteFor me, the last stanza gives real shape to the others--really a wonderful piece---
ReplyDeleteLove the journey along with you Susan ~ That last stanza is particularly poignant :
ReplyDeleteshe returns season in and out
measuring her changes against
unchanging tracks, repeated
greetings, gestures, arguments
I don't mind the replay of stories, its the people and kin that I miss most ~
Oh yes, I agree completely.
DeleteI felt as if I was right on the train with you. I would love to take a train journey in the US. Love to see the scenery (as you did) as well as people watch as you did with the elderly man and daughter! Well written.
ReplyDeleteWonderful use of description and I enjoyed the contrasts between the three parts. I love that you offered your readers and others who only think of NYC a picture of (in my view) the more beautiful part of the state. There is so much to enjoy north of the city as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting on the three parts. I tried to note war in each, though the journey is definitely away from that activity--at least so far. It is a restful and--as you say--beautiful return.
DeleteYou bring it all home in that last stanza... Poignant and moving. A journey filled with truth.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful ride, as swift as passing scenics in a tain journey!Nothign like a ride hitched home!
ReplyDeleteonly a little more wear
ReplyDeleteonly a little more weary
only a little more silent
Aptly describes what old folks had gone through and good advice on how to react when together with younger folks! Nicely Susan!
Hank
Thank you for taking me on this journey with you.
ReplyDelete