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