Night train to Xian

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    Night train to Xian




    Our bus fights counter currents
    Of autos, bicycles, and people
    To take us to the train station;
    To the seething mass
    Of travelers,
    Bright lights and loud voices.
    The flag-led group
    Threads through gates
    Spans many trains in the station
    To seek the soft bed car
    To Xian.

    Softly and smoothly
    The electric engine
    Pulls a line of cars
    From Beijing and the night;
    To a land
    Filled with caves,
    And mysteries carefully colored
    with tree blossoms.

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    Paint1954 commented on Night train to Xian

    11-12-2009

    Now that calls out of ones mind a picture form to behold.

    wheelsal commented on Night train to Xian

    06-29-2009

    I am ready to travel to China. Anyone who doesn't rate you as tops on this site. Needs glasses....

    BDIsernhagen commented on Night train to Xian

    06-05-2009

    I've always wanted to go to China, and this poem gives enough images to hold me over untill then! Your imagrey paints clear and vivid pictures, moving pictures... thank you

    burdick

    06/06/2009

    I see that lulu has put my china photo book up for sale..http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B002ACVXJI/ref=sr_1_olp_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244283042&sr=8-8 if you want a look at the tour we took you might look at it.

    jd commented on Night train to Xian

    02-26-2009

    Burdick,this poem is lush with physical images--you paint a memorable landscape with a loving brush. I too want to board this train to Xian. jd

    Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does.

    Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997) U.S. poet.

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