life’s locomotive rumbles down track
with muscled horsepower multiplied
once it leaves station, cannot turn back
so one must trust train is well-supplied.
who is the engineer guiding this train?
he’s the one who knows the destination
he stays at throttle through sunshine-rain
brings it safely through line’s every station.
i know the conductor, he’s engineer’s son,
my worn ticket he will stamp and receive
i’ll travel with him till my journey is done;
holy faith-powered…you too can believe!
At dVerse poets’ pub, Punam invites us to travel by train. My oldest son worked as a train engineer and gave us this framed print which hangs in our home. “Santa Fe” is translated “holy faith”.
a poem in my pocket 
Jun 20, 2024 @ 12:00:47
How wonderful your son worked for the railways as a chief engineer! Love the pic and metaphor worked beautifully, Lynn.
Jun 22, 2024 @ 09:46:51
Thank you for an interesting prompt which inspired me to write!
Jun 19, 2024 @ 18:19:49
Love your poem, love the image you chose. My children’s great-grandfather was Chief Engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad in the late 40’s/50’s.
Jun 19, 2024 @ 18:31:17
Thanks for sharing that personal connection, Helen! So cool to have a railroad engineer in their ancestry 😀
Jun 19, 2024 @ 11:01:29
Just beautiful!!!!
Jun 19, 2024 @ 11:58:55
Thank you, dear Selma!
Jun 19, 2024 @ 22:22:56
Always a pleasure to read your lovely words, Lynn. 🙇🏽♀️
Jun 19, 2024 @ 08:53:38
I love that picture, Lynn. So cool
Jun 19, 2024 @ 09:36:56
Thanks, Debi! Yes, I think it’s cool for a lot of reasons…shows the development of American history as well 🙂
Jun 19, 2024 @ 08:22:34
I enjoyed your interesting train metaphor, Lynn. A one way ticket with a ticket to ride! Well done.
Jun 19, 2024 @ 09:38:40
Thanks for your comment, Dwight! But I always lose that game, “Ticket to Ride” when I play my sons…
Jun 19, 2024 @ 12:38:03
:>) They must be pretty sharp!
Jun 19, 2024 @ 05:56:32
A well-constructed poem. That’s cool that your son worked as a train engineer!
Jun 19, 2024 @ 06:33:24
Yes, he enjoyed running those big engines…he drove freight, not passengers.
Jun 19, 2024 @ 07:56:23
Wonderful!
Jun 19, 2024 @ 11:58:05
❤
Jun 19, 2024 @ 03:28:52
marvellous metaphor for faith with salvation waiting at the final station
Jun 19, 2024 @ 06:34:40
Thanks, Laura…I felt inspired!
Jun 19, 2024 @ 01:56:55
I love how you captured the rhythm of the train in your poem, Lynn, and the extended metaphor is nicely done.
Jun 19, 2024 @ 06:36:49
I ‘m glad you felt the rhythm and metaphor Kim…thanks!
Jun 19, 2024 @ 07:01:30
You’re most welcome, Lynn!
Jun 18, 2024 @ 23:14:34
“i know the conductor, he’s engineer’s son,
my worn ticket he will stamp and receive”
A stunning metaphor. I’m happy you chose to write about a train’s journey this way.
Jun 19, 2024 @ 06:38:25
Thank you, Melissa!
Jun 18, 2024 @ 22:21:11
May we all come to know this conductor, the engineer’s son.
Jun 19, 2024 @ 06:37:40
YES!! 🙏