UNPLANNED  SCHEDULE

 Elizabeth Gerringer

The reflections of twilight danced with the shadows
Of forgotten pine trees on the surface of sunrise.
From the shadows one could not see if the trees were today's or yesterday's.
As the train zoomed on unyielding tracks,
Cold tracks,
Unfeeling tracks,
Strong tracks,
It did not matter if the trees were today's or yesterday's.
Each day, life is renewed.
Each spring is a new garden,
Weaving an original tapestry
From the same roots.
The train stopped.
It was May in Wyoming.
Birds chirped happily beside an abandoned churchyard.
Hope flew across the shadows.
Why the train stopped, I was not certain.
The mountain brook gleefully boasted of foreverness.
There was a loud silence on the train.
A bridge was in repair round the corner.
We thanked our prayers for the skill of the engineer.
Soft rain fell,
Cleansing the threats of fear.
Sweet perfume filled the air.
We moved on.