I worked as a crossing keeper 

On a lightly used railway 

There were five trains a day 

In each direction 

On this remote single line branch 

The last train of the day 

Passed the crossing 

At seven in the evening 

I then locked locked the gates 

Until nine the following morning 

When the first train passed by 

The routine was the same each day

With the exception of Sundays 

When no trains ran in either direction  

A crossing keepers cottage 

Was provided for me 

With a small allotment nearby 

I lived there with my three cats 

We went to a city by the sea  

The trip was organised by the church 

On the last day as we had time to kill 

We left our luggage at the coach depot

And visited a nearby bookshop 

After a while we separated and agreed 

To meet at the third coach stand near the river wall  

You wanted to purchase some confectionary for the journey 

And I wanted to purchase two poetry books and a magazine 

It was as I was searching for another poetry book

That I noticed that the bookshop had become crowded 

And that my chosen volumes had been purchased 

By someone else which I found rather frustrating 

As I left the bookshop I noticed a storm 

Over the high hills not far from the sea 

I tried to photograph the grim gray clouds 

But I had used all of my availiable film 

After a few minutes I found my family 

By the low wall that overlooked the river 

My wife told me that they had become lost 

And that the coach had left without us 

I was rather concerned that the church 

Had not missed us as we were English 

And were dressed in similar colours 

I then rang the crossing keeper 

And asked him to pick us up 

From the city by the sea 

After the last train of the day

Had passed the crossing 

He happily agreed as he was lonely 

And appreciated refined company 

I then rang the church who were shocked 

And promised to send a coach to the crossing 

On the afternoon of the following day