I rested for over an hour that day
The trains were late
This was due to the heat
The birds in the bushes
Sang in harmony
Or so it seemed
The state of the world
Was of no concern to them
An elderly couple
And their five grandchildren
Waited in the shade shelter
And chatted to a businessman
In a cool grey suit
About the journey to Colchester
Where they both lived
The journey is getting harder
They said
And this heat does not help
The youngest grandchild
A girl of about fourteen
Held her grandfather’s hand
Deep down she knew that he would not witness her marriage
And this saddened her
His brain was beginning to fade
There was a frailty in his eyes
Her childhood was coming to an end
She would be a woman soon
But he would not be there
The couple’s daughter looked at her eldest child
Lesley-Anne aged twenty-five
She was pregnant with twins
And was longing to step into the shower
The day was heavy and so was she
I will be back tomorrow
Colchester is not that far
But the railways are so complicated
Please feed your father you know how lazy he is
In the distance I heard the rumble of a high speed train
Passing through the final fields of Berkshire
Soon it was in view
And then it screamed through the summer station
I caught the glances of the people heading towards Exeter
They looked at me
It was unlikely that we would meet again and we accepted that
Peace returned and the disturbed air regained its slumber
Nothing stirred apart from the wings of the birds
As they navigated their way to and from the time stricken wharf
The businessman in the cool grey suit
Had taken his leave of the family with a polite smile
And was sitting on a bench not far from me
He was working on his lap-top
Deadlines were pressing
Remove your tie man
Embrace the day
Enjoy your journey
I said quietly to him
I am translating the Rubaiyat
Don’t you know young man?
That this is a mask
I am the Astronomer-poet of Persia
And with that he closed his eyes
The station was beginning to fill
Shoppers starting and shoppers returning
Schoolchildren free for the day
On the opposite platform
Near the wooden grey shelter
A man waited for his first love
A girl called Annie
They had been chatting on-line
And now after a number of years apart
She was visiting him in his Bedwyn home
He had been successful and his company had prospered
But she had flitted
From job to job
And man to man
He was lonely
Success comes at a price
But hey I am only thirty-seven
And maybe we can rekindle our former years
Annie had just left Hungerford
A pleasant town
She looked at the road leading up the hill
I wish I was in Salisbury holding his hand
I would never release my grip
We would visit the cathedral
And take tea in the sun
I would like him to cup me in his hands
And protect me as I am so tired
The train from London arrived without much ceremony
I had closed my eyes and when I opened them again the train was heading west
Towards the quiet bay
Where the driver would change ends
And after a mug of tea
Would travel towards the railway station again
And pick up his passengers
For Colchester and London
Newbury and Reading and other places unknown to me
This was his final run of the day
And then home to Neasden
Grim grim Neasden
How he ached for Bedwyn pure
But it was not to be
Only shire people lived in the shire villages
And he was a Londoner through and through
He loosened his blue tie
And asked me if I was boarding the train
No I am waiting for the evening
Before I return home
I could almost walk it
But the sun is so hot
Thank you for your enquiry
And with that the train moved east and was soon out of sight
A pigeon settled on the fence
It looked at me
And asked me if I would share my loaf of bread
In exchange for a little of its tranquillity