Ear to the Ground

"The engine never made a sound!" 
- his terminal thought, as he looked round.

That crossing place he knew so well,
resounded to his final knell.

On the scene, there was no sign;
with dread we wandered down the line.

Speck by fleck, the bits got bigger,
strips of fat, a shoe, a finger...

-

...Upon the sleeper, then we came;
shattered body, scattered brain...

-

...Back down the track as I contend,
what words to give his statue'd friend?

The copper's boot, with horror droll
had stuck, a pinna, to its sole.

Though for him it was no joke,
that Death had spread his crimson cloak;

"It's too late now!" I did expound,
"To put your ear to the ground."


(a true story!)

'pinna' - visible outer part of the ear.

Reviews

[Great Aunt Astri]

This is a well constructed poem on a gory subject .. more so for being a real life event. I like the idea of a pinna on the sole of the shoe. Actually, to me it has metaphorial significance ... the LISTENING SOUL. Was this your intention? A brave poem.

[Sami Khalil]

Thank you for sharing this story-type poem...Splendid...:)>...........