(152) The Coal Train (Childhood Memory) Poem by Melvina Germain
(152) The Coal Train (Childhood Memory)
Waiting patiently a quarter to one,
we heard the whistle blow.
I looked at the others, took deep breaths,
it’s almost time to go.
The train approached, there it was
bigger than life in front of me.
my first time to jump the coal train
and take that coal for free.
We ran with strength and agility,
sprung like jumping jacks.
Took our places a top the car,
zooming along the railroad tracks.
Quickly with all the strength we had,
we threw coal to the ground.
The next task was to bag it up
and sell it in our town.
The coal train came everyday
at a quarter to one,
my first day would be my last,
I put my coal bag down.
Another true story of my childhood in Sydney Nova
Scotia. Jumping the old coal train to make a few cents,
very little gain indeed. Looking back once again, I see
the danger of the act, for what was profited certainly
wasn’t worth all that. A word to the young, “stay out
of harms way, remain honest and true, the coal train
was not for me and certainly not for you.
Written: March 27/2007
Melvina What a fantastic poem I can just see that old coal train now in front of my eyes I love poems that are full of nostalga and this one is an all time great. Cheers Sylviex
This is such a sweet remembrance. Have you ever heard the song 'The Passing Of The Train'? It's one of my favorites. A train used to run way back behind our house in Ohio, when I was growing up, and we'd wait, with baited breath, for it to come by and the engineer would blow the whistle just for us! It's neat how you all jumped the train and got coal! How on earth did you keep from getting hurt! ! ? ? ? :) This is a '10'
Excellent tale from your childhood... Melvina.. The things we do for money, when we are kids...10
Delightful memory of childhood Melvina, wondefully expressed and great message. All the best, Diane
The coal train is such a neat memory to put to paper as I am sure it brought back alot of fun and all the mischief you managed to get yourself into! ((Smile)) Back then of course, lol. Thanx for sharing with us Melvina...as usual you did a wonderful job at expressing yourself. =Shelley=
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/26/2024 7:40:07 AM # 1.0.0.1119
Melvina, another wonderful penning from one of my favourite writers. The warning I hope will be taught to the young that trains are dangerous things and not to be played around with as the profit they want from them could lead to much more pain if they slipped. The wheels have no conscience. Top marks from me and thanks for sharing it my friend. David