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Thunder on the rails

Thunder on the rails, the evil train storms by,
Black as the soul of satan, steam painting the dark night sky,
Wheels singing the song of ringing steel, air tainted by fire’s breath,
Forging, forcing, driven on, drawn by the scent of death –

Over the mountains, over the seas, climbing to great height,
Pummelling clouds, spreading fear, a fierce and fiery sight,
Collecting the souls of evil ones as they slip from their last great sleep,
Thrashing limbs and writhing tongues, oh, listen to them weep! –

And the train speeds on and the darkness grows and screams rent the foetid air,
Pain and grief and tortured eyes describing their black despair,
For evil’s come for evil and there is no place to hide,
The tunnel of black looms up ahead for the evil ones who’ve died,

And the train in its grim death journey takes souls to the gates of hell,
And the blast from its echoing whistle is matched by its clanging bell,
And the terror of the damned leaves a trail of fog behind,
Curdling, ebbing, flowing, like the gasps of an evil mind,

And the resonant call of that whistle mocks their pitiful fear,
The darkness draws around them, the tunnel is too near,
And the pounding pistons sing with glee, a thunderous choir of the cursed,
And the gates of hell are opening, and the damned can see the worst …

Sept. 2011

 

3 Comments     0 Pings

By Claudio Mon Jul 23rd 2012 at 9:24 am  

This was beauitul, even with your dark words, it painted a picture that most poems can’t do. Well done and I hope to read more of your poems!!

By Amia Mon Jul 9th 2012 at 4:32 pm  

I love this!! I am writing a story, and this just inspired me!!!

By Dana Burgess Fri Oct 28th 2011 at 6:02 pm  

I spotlight a poem and poet each Saturday on my blog – http://letsbookit.blogspot.com/2011/10/poetry-moment_29.html I hope you don’t mind if I spotlight this poem on Sat Oct 29, 2011. I will, of course credit you and link back to this site. Thanks.

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