Last Train for Edinburgh

The train for Edinburgh is delayed
We watch the snow tumble in weary silence
Try to warm our hands on mugs of coffee
Soon falling into the mystical trance
Of delayed travelers everywhere,
Cocooned in our shadows of substance.

And then, suddenly, I catch the eye
Of the girl I dreamed about last night.
Unmistakably, the same long, brown coat
Her hair tied back, and her dark green eyes.

In my dream we spent the afternoon together
In galleries and strolling by the river
We talked about sex and love and death
Families, the fragility of passion
Sat on a bench by roses at St Paul's
And later over latte, tea and scones.

She is about to board the London train
As in my dream, I move towards her.
There is the faintest hint of recognition
A curious and almost teasing stare
A half smile before she turns away,
And then is lost forever.

Jon Stocks has had work published in magazines worldwide and have been nominated for the Pushcart prize 2007, an American poetry award. He has also received a citation of special merit from Bewildering stories magazine. Recent work has appeared, or is scheduled to appear, in magazines including The Coffee House magazine, Coffee House, Pennine Platform, Littoral, Other Poetry, Manifold, Poetry Monthly, Harlequin, Tadeeb International (translated into Urdu), Taj Mahal review, Avacado, Involution and Interlude.

He is currently working on a first novel and also writes short stories, winning the Carillon magazine short story competition.

A small number of poems are currently being transformed into short films as part of a film poetry project. His poem, "Alicia's Diary" was recently performed in Sheffield Cathedral as part of a Multi-media poetry presentation.

Find more by Jon Stocks in the Author Index.

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