Steam

 

An incessant rant of noise

a cacaphony of varied sounds

Raised voices and porter´s trolleys

clunking over concrete platforms

Whistles blowing, green and red

flags waved to signal and to warn

Steam hissing from unseen

apertures and smoke billowing

from vibrating funnels

Groups of people assembled

to greet and bid farewell

Men and women in uniform

khaki, navy blue and air force grey

Signs indicating facilities did abound.

Gentlemen, Ladies, Waiting Room

and a Ladies Waiting Room to boot

Loudspeakers announcing the comings and goings

as smoke filled the glass

canopy of an immense ceiling

Suitcases, hat boxes and toys

Trains with their company´s livery

carriages with compartments and corridors

Doors slammed shut in vigorous haste

Handerkerchiefs to conceal incipient tears

Babies asleep in carry cots and prams

A train not destined to stop races

through this hive of activity

the whistles of a shrieking banshee

with earth shuddering reverberations

Every station a scene of drama

personal lives acted out on a

stage of swirling steam