Tuesday, August 11, 2009

lincoln train


I found accounts that showed it came near the village of New London, Ohio, only a few miles from here. The year was 1865.



cool for April, spring came late that year
somber groups dispersed along the track
as far as the eye could see, neighbors in the night
reduced to profiles in the darkness

by the hour all were really tired
nervous in anticipation, wishing it’d arrive
3:25 in the morning, there about
there was a spot of wavering light in the distance

the same instant a voice cried out
then young Earl spotted it
“it’s coming” his wavering shout rang like a shot
over the now silent multitude assembled

some sobbing could be heard
as the lumbering of the locomotive slowly passed
the dark shadow of the funeral train
carrying the body of their fallen leader.

2 comments:

Julie said...

This is a very vivid portrait of an event. I like it very much. I know the area, but I didn't know the train came through there. Excellent poem, Jack.

jack sender said...

thank you for the words, julie. i thought the train came through our town, but it turned south and missed by a few miles.

though much has been written about president lincoln, i wanted to write for the folks in the country who turned out to honor him and who felt the sorrow.