The Signal Box – Written Tuesday 21st January 2020 (Aged 44)

The Signal Box

so the box finally closes
at last,
the levers pulled one last time
the panel no longer in use
the track diagrams no longer needed
the points finally set
and the light has finally turned to red
the log book is signed out,
one last time,
the log book he started as boy
those big panel boxes,
he once described to me as being like a toy
and now the final destination
one that is unknown
somehow for one last time
the levers have been thrown
the track now left left untouched
now express trains,
need not be in such a rush
those journeys taken,
many of which never seemed to be enough
the bell for the up line rings one final time
the signal boxes closes
for it is the end of this line
so… quell down the real fire
close up those papers often read
clean up the dirty mugs
as engines gather one last time in the shed
the drinks are drunk,
all the levers have been pulled
and the points have been finally set
all those shifts can come too end end
no toil or lieu just one final day of rest
there is no future,
just journeys that have quickly passed
the signal has closed,
the train has made one final charge




James Garratt – Tuesday 21st January 2020


More poems at 
https://theboybehindtheglasses.com/


More about this blog, The Boy Behind the Glasses, here
 https://theboybehindtheglasses.com/2020/01/08/the-boy-behind-the-glasses-an-introduction/


More poems from 2020 here 
https://theboybehindtheglasses.com/category/poems-and-writing-2020/