Story Poem, Nr.14 — Rail-Track

I have reread this several times, Josh.  I felt there was some metaphor I was missing. Firstly, I love the imagery of the conjoined tracks in the distance. It looks exactly like that when standing on them - that they merge as one over the horizon of sight-line.  Secondly, I like the implied parallel world that the tracks represent, and how seemingly we traverse it daily.  Thirdly, I love the bullet train imagery as shattering the mundane of daily pattern or peaceful existence of life, much akin to unexpected circumstances rattling our world fast and hard.  

The compressed spark particles do look like bits of light jumping the tracks and gauge the speed.  The flowers leave a somber aire of regret tinged with hope for future rebirth.  

The things we can observe and connect in life are wondrous, if we take the time to observe them and connect. It's like everything ever created mirrors something - despite one being mineral and the other organic.  It's nice to read poetry that portrays such thoughts.

Thank you Ahavati for your considered and interesting insights. It always encouraging to read what other people 'see' in a poem.
The original catalyst was to write my way towards a future intention (I want to sell our two quintas here in Portugal and move back the the U.K). It's a task with many unknowns and external factors at play. I thought of the role of prayer/intention/desire and our ability (or not) to influence events in our own orbit. Hence the rail-track image. We do what we can do practically (shovel coal) towards our goal (home/dinner). I was expecting one of the quintas to be easily sold by now (vanishing point where 'prayer' meets 'emerging historical fact') and I've passed over that moment with the intention still remaining unfulfilled.
Then I felt the broader sense of 'history in the making' and the rise of authoritarianism, despite many attempts the world over to prevent it. Larger forces (bullet train) rapidly undo decades, if not centuries, of hard-won social progress. And I wonder what we are really left with - just flowers on the wayside, buffeted this way and that. Will I manage to sell up and move by Christmas? I've no idea.
So I can see from your comments you are on the right track {pun, sorry  :)) } and I'm glad the essence is communicated. Always interesting to engage on these things.

Ah, I see! I'm not so good at gauging literal because I am dyslexic; however, I am pretty good at essences and energy.  

I do hope you are home by Christmas! What a great holiday that would make!

This is a very powerful piece. Brings to mind immigrants who put all their hopes in prayer & the road in front of them...but those with power & ulterior motives often derail those dreams. Then I read your reply to Ahavati's comment & saw where you were going with this. There are a lot of dimensions I feel this poem can traverse. This is gonna be ticking away in the back of my mind for the rest of the day with that image of rails converging in the unseen distance...

Thank you Willow for your thoughts and insights. I like your notion of the hope of immigrants dreaming of a better life - it makes me picture that rail-track disappearing westwards across some American plain. What I always find tragic is how so few (unprocessed) 'leaders' can screw it up for so many millions - wars fought, lives of struggle to improve life for the next generation, etc, dashed at the stroke of a pen by some psycho(s) who are too cowardly to own, face, and deal with, their distorted psychologies.

Thank you for your insights, HF. I like the way you identify poets as the flowers - and I like the way you posit prayers wheedling their influence into our lives through unknown routes. Reminds me of an old comment - "when I stop praying, coincidences stop happening". Thank you too for the well wishes in moving; it's a bit daunting but I've experienced several times over the decades sudden changes to 'all systems go' - and suddenly one's whole life lands in a new constellation of things. I'm counting on the universe being consistent here, yet still original {you can never outsmart the universe, you just have to trust, and keep going}    :))

nice write, Josh ... it invites quiet contemplation both of the poem and how what is said in the poem interacts with aspects of our own lives ...

Thank you AB, I like your 'dual-aspect' approach to reading and assimilating the poem. We live in this strange world where huge forces are at work and simultaneously we are trying to navigate what we believe to be a good course for ourselves, and our families.

For me politics immediately came to mind ... the left rail and the right rail two parties that sometimes try to meet but rarely do ... and the passengers just going about their business maybe they will be affected,  maybe they won't  ... meanwhile life speeds by too fast going in the opposite direction  . . The flowers offer beauty and hope for better things if only we take the time to notice them ... that there very existence won't be for naught.. that everything is of equal importance  
..  excellent ink Josh!

Thank you Jemac; I like your idea of the two rail tracks representing two political parties that rarely meet (same in U.K). Also like the idea that the flowers are at the very least a kind of 'witness' to history, often experiencing the brunt of it; and there is value in that alone, even if structured circumstances preclude the flowers from contributing anything else.  
I've just recorded 'Rail-Track' and sent it to Missy so it might appear on a PoetCast audio as well.

Thank you Josh .. I will keep a lookout out for it in Poet Cast

Philosophical, psychological, logical and yet emotional all mixed into one. The two trains (one running on coal, the other the bullet train) in opposite directions, their passengers, two different worlds. You've created something special here.
Whatever you decide in the next phase of life, I'm sure it will turn out great.

Thank you Wally, and for the RL. Yes, you got it; two trains, two differing worlds.
It's one of those phases where everything is thrown up in the air again, and I'm not sure how the new constellation of life's components will land.

 this has a strong metaphysical narrative to it ...with all the existential & elevated aspects of life/ beyondness too ...merging them vividly in this cleverly spun contextual rail-track! a holistic take you try to infuse in all..the timelines of origin & faith & politics & freedom, trickling down to individualistic thoughts & ways of simpleton..struggling flowers of hope amidst all the blows...feels they are eternal & beautiful ...in all their spirited stand against the so-forces! juz me dear poet...thanks for this share :)

Thank you Uma for your interesting reply, and for elucidating the several levels and aspects of the poem that caught your attention. I always value your comments and insights and ways of seeing things from a perspective that often jump-starts my brain into differing ways of thinking. And than you for the RL too. Best regards, Josh.