The Conductor

He wandered along the Pullman car

As if he owned the train,

And wore the badge of ‘Conductor’ and

A whistle on a chain,

He carried a block of tickets that

Were printed differently,

With various towns and places from

The inland to the sea.

He’d walk from behind the driver, from

The front up to the back,

His steps in time to the rhythm of

The train, its clicketty-clack,

He wouldn’t look at the passengers

Unless their eyes were strained,

But then would pause with his ticket block

To see which ones remained.

And then, as if he divined the stress

Each passenger went through,

He’d tear off one of the tickets, as

He would, for me or you,

And suddenly they’d be on a beach

Or resting in some town,

And making love to a red-haired wench

Just as the sun went down.

The train continued its journey with

Its steady clicketty-clack,

The passenger sitting limply with

His eyes, empty and black,

While ever the train’s conductor walked

Along the swaying aisle,

Dispensing the tickets on the block

For mile on endless mile.

Then once at their destination he

Would blow a single note,

Using that tiny whistle hanging

Chained down by his throat,

And all of the passengers would wake,

Their eyes no longer black,

Marvelling at the dreams they’d had

While travelling on that track.

If ever you board that certain train

Be sure to be aware,

And look long at the conductor,

As he walks; No, even stare!

Then if he pauses in front of you

Think where you’d like to be,

And watch as he peels your ticket off,

Your ride to ecstasy.

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A amazing tale my friend. I enjoyed the flow of thoughts leading to very good ending. Thank you David for sharing the excellent poetry and tale.
Coyote

[M. L. F.]

I appreciate that your writing always tells a story. Narrative poetry is really the best sort..
..Misty

[D Connolly]

This makes me think of life as a train, and the Conductor as Death, giving us tickets to where we will spend the afterlife :) As usual, your poems always bring the most lovely visions and spark my imagination

[PhoenixDown]

Another cautionary success, David. Like a flame, which burns - your write. Like a flame, you guide. Bravo. Fantastic, as usual. You continue to live up to the standard you have forged.

Phoenix

[TPK Stories]

Never been on a train but your poem made me curious as to what it'd be like. Excellent tale.

[θεά]

Oh what a delicious trip this would be! You have woven a fantastic tale through the seemingly innocuous and I applaud you for that. The conductor is no ordinary one, for that matter who is an ordinary man of service? The constancy of the everyday objects and everyday beings makes you realize how visceral our experiences and thoughts are. One would be fanciful to imagine the Conductor as the very anthropomorphized figure of time itself. One that moves, one that reminds, one that makes the mere passage of life accountable.
Thanks for the read request. This has been an exceptional ride.
Best,
M.

[Valentine]

Fantastic, and I can think of a few places I would love to go and see. I love trains and my favorite trip was on one. Do you know that conductors phone number? Valentine