Poem: A Railway Junction
A Railway Junction
In 'The Railway Junction', we are also left asking many questions. What is the appointed hour hour ? Who is the bow-legged groom ? Why is the fair one discreetly veiled? You will have your own ideas when you have read the poem through a number of times.
From here through tunneled gloom the track
Forks into two, and one of these
Wheels onward into darkening hills,
And one toward Distant Seas.
How still it is; the signal light
At set of sun shines palely green;
A thrush sings; other sound there's none,
Nor traveller to be seen---
Where late there was a throng. And now,
In peace awhile, I sit alone;
Though soon, at the appointed hour,
I shall myself be gone.
But not their way; the bow-legged groom,
The Parson in black, the widow and son,
The sailor with his cage, the gaunt
Gamekeeper with his gun,
That fair one too, discreetly veiled---
Al, who saw mutely came, and went,
Will reach those far nocturnal hills
Or shores, ere night is spent.
I nothing know why does we met---
Their thoughts, their longings, hopes, their fate :
And what shall I remember except---
The evening growing late---
That here through tunneled gloom the track
Forks into two; of these
One into darkening hills lead on,
and one toward distant seas ?
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