This past year I’ve missed sitting in cold train stations and bustling airports, I’ve missed sitting quietly in the midst of crowds of people, I’ve missed talking to strangers and sharing stories with friends. The following poem isn’t about that but more about chance encounters which I have greatly missed and I look forward to the day they resume.

GIRL FROM THE TRAIN STATION

Waiting for a train to come

Standing on the platform like everyone

My boots had holes in their soles

From life taking its toll

She was wearing a pair of worn converse

Her eyes met mine and mine met hers

I was visiting family and she was doing the same

Spoke a while and we exchanged our names

Phone calls and coffee dates

Barrooms, restaurants and twists of fate

We came to know each other

Before turning ourselves into lovers

I was smitten and my heart was skipping beats

Love letters written and Valentine’s treats

We waited on a train together

Frustrated by the delays due to winter’s dubious weather

I was meeting her family at Christmas time

At New Year she’d be greeting mine

Doubts only started to linger

Once we each had rings on our fingers

I could tell she’d placed our love on the shelf

She could tell I was only thinking of myself

She’d started to come home late

Thought she was cunning but I’d already decided not to wait

I still don’t know who to blame

We’d both extinguished our flame

I was waiting for a train to come

Saw her standing in the middle of everyone

My boots had holes in their soles

From life taking its toll

She had a man in her hand

He seemed like he could understand

They had two children both wearing brand new converse

Her eyes met mine and mine met hers

She shared her smile and I shared mine

I suppose a lot can happen over time