THE DAY FOREVER PAUSED

It seemed like forever 
The train was stopping 
Every fifteen minutes 
And I was becoming very restless 

The engineers mumbling 
Did not arrest my anxieties 
Hoping to make it to the city of 
Tasmania's Eggs and Bacon Bay
By five PM on April fools day 

The wild flowers of this little town 
Was beyond exquisite 
Its petals reflecting the sunshine 
And is absolutely amazing 
At this time of year 
Or so I've been told 

My grandmother 
Could never stop talking 
About this distant land that captured 
Her very soul while stumbling on it
During the painstaking years
Of the Great Depression in the 1930s. 

I would sit at her feet in awe
As she tells of this fairy tale city
Her eyes sparkling 
Like the galaxies of the nights sky
Showing off their seductive dance
Of a million twinkles per second 

Now it was my turn 
To embrace my childhood dream 
But the train like a sloth at its best sprint
Held me captive without reason 
As my oxygen tank gage 
Reminded me of my fading health.

Wilford Barker.