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“Into You Like A Train”…psychedlic furs-
I was listening to this old favorite while going through some old writing to be polished into life, and I noticed a strange phenomenon that I write including trains a whole lot.
I remember thinking this was strange and as I do I started researching this. I, am not as strange as I’d like to believe…. Again.
In the poem “To a Fat Lady Seen from a Train” by Frances Darwin Cornford, the metaphor of a train is used to convey the idea of missing out on sensual experiences and love. The poet questions why the woman walks through the fields in gloves, missing out on so much, with the gloves serving as a metaphor for her refusal to engage with life and love…
To a Lady Seen From the Train
O why do you walk through the fields in gloves,
Missing so much and so much?
O fat white woman whom nobody loves,
Why do you walk through the fields in gloves,
When the grass is soft as the breast of doves
And shivering sweet to the touch?
O why do you walk through the fields in gloves,
Missing so much and so much?
https://allpoetry.com/To-a-Lady-Seen-From-the-Train
2Another example is Emily Dickinson’s poem “I like to see it lap the Miles,” where the train is metaphorically described as a giant horse, marveling at its strength and power
I like to see it lap the Miles — (383)
BY EMILY DICKINSON
I like to see it lap the Miles -
And lick the Valleys up —
And stop to feed itself at Tanks —
And then — prodigious step
Around a Pile of Mountains —
And supercilious peer
In Shanties — by the sides of Roads —
And then a Quarry pare
To fit its sides
And crawl between
Complaining all the while
In horrid — hooting stanza —
Then chase itself down Hill -
And neigh like Boanerges —
Then — prompter than a Star
Stop — docile and omnipotent
At it’s own stable door -
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56019/i-like-to-see-it-lap-the-miles-383
Additionally, Maya Angelou’s poem “Touched By An Angel” uses the metaphor of a train to describe love’s thunderous arrival, emphasizing its unmistakable and powerful nature
Touched By An Angel
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.
https://allpoetry.com/Touched-By-An-Angel
These examples illustrate how poets have used the metaphor of a train to convey various aspects of love and human experience.
To The Train Lover — To The Train Lover Poem by Phil J Hambling
The Train Of Love — The Train Of Love Poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Love Train — Love Train Poem by Mark Hopwood
Poets use trains as a symbol of love in various ways.
In the poem “Journey of the Train,” the train is depicted as a symbol of life’s journey, connecting people in their shared quest for love, meaning, and endless light
The Train of Life
At birth we boarded the train
and met our parents, and we
believe they will always travel
on our side.
However, at some station
our parents will step down from
the train, leaving us on this
journey alone.
As time goes by,
other people will board the train;
and they will be significant
our siblings, friends, children,
and even the love of your life.
Many will step down
and leave a permanent vacuum.
Others will go so unnoticed
that we don’t realize
they vacated their seats.
This train ride will be full of joy,
sorrow, fantasy, expectations,
hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.
Success consists of having a
good relationship with all
passengers requiring that we
give the best of ourselves.
The mystery to everyone is:
We do not know at which station
we ourselves will step down.
So, we must live in the best way,
love, forgive, and offer the best
of who we are.
It is important to do
this because when the time
comes for us to step down
and leave our seat empty
we should leave behind beautiful
memories for those who will
continue to travel on the train of life.
I wish you a joyful journey on the
train of life.
Reap success and give lots of love.
More importantly, thank God for the
journey.
Lastly, I thank you for being one of
the passengers on my train.
Similarly, Walt Whitman’s poem “To a Locomotive in Winter” describes the train as a powerful symbol, representing a greater strength in the country and its people
The rhythmic movement of the train is often used to symbolize the passage of time and the interconnectedness of people, while its steady, rhythmic essence conveys resilience, determination, and the universal human experiences of hope and despair
These examples illustrate how poets use trains as a powerful symbol to represent love, human experience, and the journey of life.
how do poets use trains as a symbol of life’s journey
Poets use trains as a symbol of life’s journey by portraying them as a powerful metaphor for the passage of time, the interconnectedness of people, and the universal human experiences of hope and despair.
The rhythmic movement of the train is often employed to symbolize resilience, determination, and the shared quest for love, meaning, and light
Additionally, trains in literature and art have been significant symbols for connecting people and reflecting on universal human experiences that transcend cultural boundaries
The train’s steady, rhythmic essence conveys the idea of life’s journey, with its tracks representing a predetermined path and its movement symbolizing the ongoing passage of time and human interconnectedness
Poets use various literary devices such as personification, metaphors, and imagery to convey these themes
Overall, the symbol of a train in poetry represents the ongoing journey of life, the interconnectedness of humanity, and the universal experiences shared by all.
So , besides those mentioned, what are some examples of poems that use trains as a symbol of life’s journey
The poem “Journey of the Train” from Story Arcadia uses the train as a symbol of life’s journey, emphasizing its role in connecting people in their shared quest for love, meaning, and endless light
Additionally, the poem “Two Hours on the Train” by Abdellatif Laâbi also employs the train as a symbol of life’s journey, highlighting its significance as a place for people to meet, part ways, work, think, or observe, thus representing the various experiences and transitions in life
These examples demonstrate how poets use trains as a powerful symbol to represent the ongoing journey of life, the interconnectedness of humanity, and the universal experiences shared by all.
what is the historical context of trains as a symbol in poetry
In closing, I offer my own jumbled up versions of these things. I hope you enjoy them and visit the Vids and Podcast, even though I MAY not be an academic…or an oulaw.
https://youtu.be/Wx_2UmNsUGk?si=JSoJwp_nr4J2FZ-y
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