Time for Open Link Night in the dVerse Poets Pub ~ Grace is our host. I was intrigued with the line Dora chose for Prosery in the Pub from the Stanley Kunitz' poem 'King of the River' ~ I have had a life-long love affair with trains ~ the whistles ~ the magic.
“and the iridescent image swims through a mirror that flows.”
~ Tracks in our neighborhood ~
long ~ long ~ short ~ long
chords that drift behind
pulling the anchor of my mind
the melancholy strain
the grief of a whistling train
morning's whistle calls me from the deep
breaks the fragile tapestry of sleep
B Major 6th chord [ D#4, F#4, G#4, B4, D#5 ]
my day begins with a softened gleam
searching the edges of my dream
and the iridescent image swims
through a mirror that flows
There is music in your words here, Helen. <3
ReplyDelete"the melancholy strain
ReplyDeletethe grief of a whistling train"
Such distraught emotions
Much love
Written as a poet who knows where she is going <3
ReplyDeleteThe grief of a whistling train. Had never thought about how melancholy they are.
ReplyDeleteNothing like it - the grief of a whistling train. Love the music of the whistle calls.
ReplyDeleteHeard it as I read... Well done
ReplyDeleteI live a block from the tracks and wake up to those horns most mornings...I am definitely feeling this poem today...well done! 🩷
ReplyDeleteI haven’t lived near a railway for a long time, Helen, so your poem brought back some memories. I love the sound of the ‘melancholy strain / the grief of a whistling train’.
ReplyDeleteI love the poem, and I see how you have made the train truly part of your life — otherwise, trains remain in the background of thousands of households they pass by every day.
ReplyDeleteThe mournful sound of a train whistling is so evocative. We have two lines that cut through our nearest town, but one of them is a narrow gauge line for a steam-powered train for tourists - its hoot is quite high pitched and cheery! I love being at the front of the traffic queue when the train comes through - we wave at the passengers!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful, delicate poem, Helen. I love that you woke up with a song and that you included the chords! I also love the line "breaks the fragile tapestry of sleep."
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done, Helen!
ReplyDeleteAaaah, this is so musical and so beautiful and the prompt line fits so well! Very well/beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteThe grief of a whistling train---love that phrase. Searching the edges of the dream...love that too... beautiful poem.
ReplyDeletemy day begins with a softened gleam
ReplyDeletesearching the edges of my dream
A privilege to be awakened by a moving train, Helen! It still gives you time to reflect on the tail end of your dreams. This perhaps will provide ideas for the songwriter that you are! Great lines!
Hank
https://rallentanda.blogspot.com/2026/08/senryu-sunday.html
ReplyDeleteYou are invited to join in Senryu Sunday at my blog.....Rall
Yes the whistling train is grief personified. Conjures up all kinds of memories for me.
A whistling train... love the sound, and the history of it all
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeously rendered, Helen! I especially admire "the grief of a whistling train." ❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteThe romance and melancholy of the train whistle is perfect fodder for a lovely poem.
ReplyDelete