Steaming to Childhood     a villanelle

I long to hear trains steam through my dark nights
to recapture childhood's unseen romance,
in the deep darkness or fast fading light,
 
raising those slumbers to echoing heights
darkness and silence a whistle enhanced,
I long to hear trains steam through my dark nights.
 
Again marvel at their rocketing might
majestic, stately, deep rumbling advance,
In deepest darkness or fast fading light.
 
What destinations these movements delight
my thoughts of childhood such sounds would entrance
I long to hear again trains steaming at night.
 
Imaged it speeding my thought to free flight
bringing bills, post-cards, invites to a dance
in deepest darkness or fast fading light.
 
carrying me back to my childhoods sight
steam me, recede me, back to time distant,
I long to hear again trains steam at night
in deepest darkness or fast fading light.

I'd love to see trains steam through my dark night
riveting with its clattering romance,
in my deepest dark or fast fading light.

Raising my slumbers to wondering height
darkness and silence this magic enhanced,
I'd love to see trains steam through my dark night.

To marvel at this smooth rocketing might;
of huge steel driving wheel's rumbling advance,
in my deepest dark or fast fading light.

No sleepers see train's firebox stoked bright,
nor stream of gleaming cinders to entrance,
I'd love to see trains steam through my dark night

Imaged it speeding my thoughts then soar in flight
delivering mail to cottage or manse,
in my deepest dark or fast fading light.

t'would carry me to within childhood's sight
steaming, receding, into time distant,
I'd love to see trains steam through my dark night
in my deepest dark or fast fading light...